Moving to Marshfield, Massachusetts

by btobers · Published June 18, 2019 · Updated November 18, 2024

Marshfield, Massachusetts is a town located on the South Shore of Massachusetts. The town has a population of about 25,000 people and covers an area of around 28 square miles. It is bordered to the north by Duxbury and to the south by Plymouth. The climate in Marshfield is typical for Massachusetts; hot summers and cold winters with occasional snowfall.

The history of Marshfield dates back to 1632 when it was first settled by English colonists as part of the Plymouth Colony. Since then, it has been a thriving fishing village with a strong agricultural heritage. In recent years, Marshfield has become increasingly popular due to its proximity to Boston and Cape Cod.

Politically, Marshfield is part of Plymouth County and elects members to serve in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate as well as US Congressmen from the 9th Congressional District. The town also has its own Board of Selectmen which acts as local governing body for all matters related to Marshfield’s government and services such as public safety, education, infrastructure, etc.

The economy in Marshfield is primarily driven by tourism due to its close proximity to beaches and other attractions on Cape Cod. Additionally, there are many small businesses in town that cater to local residents such as restaurants, retail stores, medical offices, etc.

Marshfield also has several schools including two elementary schools (Governor John Carver Elementary School & Daniel Webster Elementary School), one middle school (Furnace Brook Middle School), one high school (Marshfield High School), and one college (Massasoit Community College).

Finally, some landmarks worth visiting in Marshfield include Humarock Beach which offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean; Green Harbor Beach which offers beach access for swimming and boating; Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary which offers trails for hiking and bird watching; Furnace Pond which offers fishing opportunities; Rexhame Beach which offers beautiful sunsets along with beach access; and Rockland Cemetery which is home to many old gravestones dating back centuries ago.

Population: 24,324. Estimated population in July 2024: 24,890 (+2.3% change)
Males: 11,869 (48.8%), Females: 12,455 (51.2%)

Plymouth County

Demographics

Median resident age: 37.4 years
Median household income: $66,508
Median house value: $225,200

Population by Race

Races in Marshfield:

White Non-Hispanic (97.2%)
Two or more races (0.8%)
Hispanic (0.7%)
Black (0.5%)
Other race (0.5%)

Ancestries: Irish (45.1%), English (18.0%), Italian (16.0%), German (7.4%), French (6.1%), Polish (4.1%).

Elevation: 17 feet

Land area: 5.1 square miles

Map of Marshfield, MA

Population by Education

Marshfield, Massachusetts is a coastal town located in Plymouth County. The population of Marshfield as of the 2020 census is 25,132 people. This population has grown steadily over the past decade due to the town’s close proximity to Boston and its beautiful beaches.

The median household income in Marshfield is $105,404 which is higher than the national median. The cost of living in Marshfield is 8% higher than the Massachusetts average and 28% higher than the national average. This reflects in part on the higher cost for housing which makes up 33% of a typical household budget. The median housing price in Marshfield is $379,000 making it one of the most expensive towns to live in Massachusetts. Rent prices are also high with an average one bedroom costing around $1,800 per month while two bedrooms will average around $2,500 per month. Overall, living costs can be quite expensive but are offset by a high median income and quality amenities such as excellent schools, parks and beaches.

For population 25 years and over in Marshfield

High school or higher: 94.1%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.7%
Unemployed: 2.7%
Mean travel time to work: 36.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Marshfield town

Never married: 24.9%
Now married: 59.6%
Separated: 1.3%
Widowed: 6.4%
Divorced: 7.8%

2.8% Foreign born (1.3% Europe, 0.5% Latin America, 0.5% North America).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Marshfield:

JORDAN HOSPITAL INC (about 16 miles; PLYMOUTH, MA)
SOUTH SHORE HOSPITAL (about 18 miles; SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA)
BROCKTON HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; BROCKTON, MA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Marshfield:

GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (about 27 miles; BOSTON, MA; Abbreviation: BOS)
BARNSTABLE MUNI-BOARDMAN/POLANDO FIELD (about 43 miles; HYANNIS, MA; Abbreviation: HYA)
LAURENCE G HANSCOM FLD (about 48 miles; BEDFORD, MA; Abbreviation: BED)

Other public-use airports nearest to Marshfield:

MARSHFIELD MUNICIPAL – GEORGE HARLOW FIELD (about 4 miles; MARSHFIELD, MA; Abbreviation: 3B2)
CRANLAND (about 11 miles; HANSON, MA; Abbreviation: 28M)
MONPONSETT POND (about 11 miles; HALIFAX, MA; Abbreviation: MA6)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Marshfield:

BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE (about 20 miles; BRIDGEWATER, MA; Full-time enrollment: 6,843)
MASSASOIT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 21 miles; BROCKTON, MA; Full-time enrollment: 4,161)
QUINCY COLLEGE (about 23 miles; QUINCY, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,528)
STONEHILL COLLEGE (about 27 miles; EASTON, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,374)
BABSON COLLEGE (about 27 miles; WELLESLEY, MA; Full-time enrollment: 2,659)
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS-BOSTON (about 29 miles; BOSTON, MA; Full-time enrollment: 9,248)
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY (about 31 miles; BOSTON, MA; Full-time enrollment: 5,291)

Schools

Public high school in Marshfield:

MARSHFIELD HIGH (Students: 1,278; Location: FOREST STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Marshfield:

FURNACE BROOK MIDDLE (Students: 1,039; Location: 500 FURNACE STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)
MARTINSON ELEMENTARY (Students: 556; Location: 275 FOREST STREET; Grades: PK – 05)
SOUTH RIVER (Students: 502; Location: HATCH STREET; Grades: KG – 05)
GOV EDWARD WINSLOW (Students: 440; Location: 60 REGIS RD; Grades: PK – 05)
DANIEL WEBSTER (Students: 423; Location: 1456 OCEAN STREET; Grades: PK – 05)
EAMES SCHOOL (Students: 360; Location: 165 EAMES WAY; Grades: PK – 05)

Libraries

Library in Marshfield:

VENTRESS MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $634,560; Location: LIBRARY PLAZA; 63,514 books; 2,431 audio materials; 3,428 video materials; 202 serial subscriptions)