Compare towns

Marshfield vs Springfield vs Brookline vs Belvidere

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 most affordable homes ($178k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldSpringfieldBrooklineBelvidere
People
Population
470
1,122Highest
531
422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
42.4±8.8
9% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
40.7±6.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±9.1
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
22%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Belvidere and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
10.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
8.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Marshfield and Brookline 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.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$81,563±$18k
about the U.S. average
Springfield and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$178,300±$31kLowest
46% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$239,200±$51k
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$79
20% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,542±$1k
9% above U.S.
Brookline and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,269Lowest
5% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$3,908
25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±53.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
34 min
30% above U.S.
28 minLowest
8% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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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.