What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Palmyra has the most affordable homes ($155k median).

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	Palmyra
People
Population	499Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Highest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	40.9±7.8Highest 9% below ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
	Marshfield and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.5%±6.9Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Palmyra and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Marshfield and Palmyra 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%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,500±$5kHighest 16% below ME	$60,543±$17kLowest 19% below ME
	Marshfield and Palmyra 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	$154,900±$34kLowest 48% below ME
	Marshfield and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$733±$119 36% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,342Highest 23% below ME	$1,614Lowest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Marshfield and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1% ME: 10.7%	9.1% ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr newer than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	13 minLowest 46% below ME	21 minHighest 14% below ME
Work from home	11%±7Highest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Marshfield and Palmyra 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.