5 things to know about living in Marshfield
The South Shore coastal town of Marshfield, which is about a 40-minute drive to Boston (without traffic, of course), almost doubles in size in the summer months. What is normally a small, quiet town of about 25,000 becomes a bustling vacation destination with almost 40,000 people.
Even for year-round residents said the town can feel like a vacation destination.
“It feels like a getaway,” Joe Mastriani, a 15-year resident, told The Boston Globe. “Having a piece of land is extremely attractive to me. There’s a lot of wildlife.”
Check it out.
1. You’ll live in…
… a home very close to a beach. Even if you live inland in Marshfield, you are never more than 15 or 20 minutes away from the coast. Many of the homes are historic, have acres of land, or have views of the water. Many even have all three.
The Marshfield Historical Commission performed a historic house survey, listing close to 300 properties that are deemed having historical significance. Any homes or structures that are more than 50 years old are subject to a demolition delay, with the goal of allowing the Commission to determine what is “to be historically significant to the town to provide time to explore other alternatives.”
2. You’ll pay…
… slightly less than half a million. The Zillow Home Value Index puts Marshfield’s median home value at $407,800, which rose 5.2 percent in the past year. It is expected to increase 1.6 percent within the next year.
For $350,000 to $450,000, you can get a 2,000-square-foot home with character or even a condo that has lower square footage, but is just steps to the beach.
3. You’ll hang out…
… outside somewhere, maybe even with some history. The No. 1 rated Trip Advisor thing to do in town is to go to the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a more than 500-acre area with trails, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and lots of wildlife. At the sanctuary, you can participate in a variety of classes, programs, and activities, or you can just take a stroll and enjoy the view.
You can also check out the Daniel Webster Estate and Heritage Center, which consists of 14 acres of land and Webster’s mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Webster was a lawyer who became a U.S. Senator and Secretary of State and resided in Marshfield for 20 years until he died in 1852. You can now take guided tours of the property, as well as host events there.
For a little more history, you can visit the 1699 Historic Winslow House & Cultural Center, which was built in 1699 and is considered an ancestral home of a Marshfield founding family. You can take tours of the house and see it almost exactly how it was left.
When you want to head back outside, don’t forget about all of Marshfield’s beautiful beaches, including Brant Rock, Fieldston, Green Harbor, and Rexhame.
In the summer months, the town is also known for the Marshfield Fair, which in 2016 takes place on August 19 through August 28, where you can go on rides, listen to music, check out livestock competitions, and more.
When it’s time to eat, you’re going to have trouble making a choice, as there is a wide range of dining options, many of which revolve around seafood. The No. 1 rated Yelp restaurant in town is Green Harbor Lobster Pound, which is known for its lobster rolls.
4. Your kids will…
… go to some pretty good schools. Most schools in town get an above average ranking on the 1-10 GreatSchools rating scale, with Eames Way School and Martinson Elementary School both receiving a 9.
The Globe also mentions that Marshfield High School recently underwent a renovation in 2014, so the school now has “a center courtyard, marine fabrication laboratory, a student-run restaurant, a fitness center, a robotics room, and a television studio.”
5. You’ll love…
… the Marshfield Hills General Store. The quaint, nostalgic general store, filled with candy and other treats was established in 1969. When Massachusetts-born actor Steve Carell, who vacations in Marshfield in the summers, found out that the general store was for sale, he bought it in 2009. The store is operated by his sister-in-law, Tish Vivado, who initially informed him that it was for sale.
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