Compare towns

Pinehurst vs Marshfield vs Halifax

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pinehurst has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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.

MeasurePinehurstMarshfieldHalifax
People
Population
6,845Lowest
25,879Highest
7,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2
7% above MA
45.9±2.6Highest
15% above MA
41.9±4.7Lowest
5% above MA
Marshfield and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.1
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±5.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Halifax and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2
MA: 17.9%
18.8%±3.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Pinehurst and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
52.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,250±$27kHighest
41% above MA
$125,986±$8k
21% above MA
$118,556±$11kLowest
14% above MA
Pinehurst and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$623,800±$22k
11% above MA
$680,300±$27kHighest
21% above MA
$481,500±$51kLowest
14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,946±$1kHighest
10% above MA
$1,772±$123Lowest
about the MA average
$1,804±$375
about the MA average
Pinehurst and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,316Lowest
5% above MA
$6,656
11% above MA
$6,840Highest
14% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32%±58.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
45.6%±37.4
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.9%
MA: 10%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
1968Lowest
4 yrs newer than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
7% below MA
35 min
19% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
13.1%±3.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
13.9%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #54 of 282 in MA #120 of 282 in MA
School district — Marshfield Halifax
High school in town — Marshfield High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.0
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

MA 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.