Compare towns
Marshfield vs Pepperell vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Pepperell has the most expensive homes ($482k median).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.
| Measure | Marshfield | Pepperell | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 470Lowest |
11,663Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Highest 9% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
42±8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sheffield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sheffield and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 5% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31k 46% below U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79 20% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S. |
$967±$79Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Pepperell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269 5% above U.S. |
$6,698Highest 115% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #153 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.