Compare towns
Scituate vs Springfield vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Scituate | Springfield | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,365Lowest |
154,749Highest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
| Marshfield and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 31% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Scituate | Springfield | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Scituate High School | Springfield Central High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.2Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.