What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

Freedom has the most renters (9.8% rent).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Freedom
People
Population	499Lowest	670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-1.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±7.8Highest 9% below ME	40.1±2.7Lowest 10% below ME
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.5%±6.9Highest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±4.8Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.3Lowest ME: 22.4%	22.1%±2.9Highest ME: 22.4%
	Freedom and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.1%Highest ME: 36.2%	23.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Highest ME: 5.8%	0.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$5kLowest 16% below ME	$64,861±$12kHighest 13% below ME
	Freedom and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,900±$42kHighest 35% below ME	$190,600±$69kLowest 36% below ME
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,342Highest 23% below ME	$2,328Lowest 23% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	21.1%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%	11.5%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	90.2%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	13 minLowest 46% below ME	32 minHighest 29% above ME
Work from home	11%±7Highest ME: 15.9%	8.4%±3.9Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Marshfield and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.