MARSHFIELD /Planting Field neighborhood
Child-safe neighborhood built in the early to mid- 1990s
By MAUREEN McCARTHY
For The Patriot Ledger
Area: 28.52 square miles
POPULATION
2000: 24,324
2007: 26,268
Density: 927 res./square mile
Median age: 40
Median household income: 76,376
FINANCES
Tax rate (2007): $8.14
Town budget: $70.2 million
Avg. water/sewer bill: $690/year
HOUSING
Median home price (# sales)
2007: $390,000 (253)
2008: $380,000 (59 through April)
Median condo price
2007: $217,500 (47)
2008: $215,000 (17 through April)
SCHOOLS
Number of students: 4,692
Number of teachers: 347
H.S. grads to 4-yr. college: 75%
H.S. grads to 2-yr. college: 10%
Median SAT score (2006): 1559
Diane Cull and her family moved from North Quincy to the Planting Field neighborhood 16 years ago and built their dream home.
“I was on maternity leave and my son, Patrick, was a baby, just three months old,” Cull said. “It was a great opportunity. The piece of land that we had was ideal, and there were all new homes in the neighborhood at the time.”
The child-safe neighborhood was built during the early to mid-1990s and encompasses several dozen, colonial-style homes on Planting Field Road, Congress Street and Cordwood Circle.
Mature plantings and manicured lawns are commonplace. Children of all ages can be seen riding bikes throughout the quiet neighborhood with an equal amount of neighbors walking dogs.
“It is not an overwhelming neighborhood, but pride of ownership shows throughout.” Cull said of the homes on her tree-lined street. “Everyone is friendly and on the same page. We look out for each other.”
In recent years, 1,500- to 2,700-square-feet homes have sold in the mid-$400,000s to $600,000. Lots sizes range from a half-acre to a full acre.
Amy March of Success Real Estate said the area has quite a bit to offer for commuters and beach-lovers alike. “You can walk to Roche Brothers and (the neighborhood) is (relatively close) to the commuter rail in Scituate,” March said. “It is also within walking distance to the high school complex – the Martin Elementary School, Furnace Brook Middle and Marshfield High School.”
Only a few miles from Planting Field Road, residents have access to public beaches: Rexhame, Fieldston, Sunrise, Brant Rock and Green Harbor – each accessible via town-issued, beach stickers.
“I have lived here for 40 years and the beaches are beautiful,” March said. “The Brant Rock Esplanade on Ocean Street is a wonderful attraction. It offers great restaurants, gift shops, a fish market and a supermarket.”
With summer almost here, Marshfield has a lot to offer its residents, March and Cull agree.
“We have bonfires on the beach and fireworks,” March said of her hometown. “We also have a farmer’s market on Friday afternoons through the end of October.”
In addition to its breathtaking beaches, ample shopping and quaint downtown, most notable to South Shore residents is the Marshfield Fair, scheduled for August 21 to 30.
“The fair offers 4-H activities, horticultural exhibits, rides and games for the kids with nightly, family entertainment,” March said.
The Cull family has taken full advantage of the peacefulness of their neighborhood and all of the amenities the town has to offer. With that, they plan to stay in their home for a very long time.
“We plan to stay put,” Cull said. “I do feel that someday, we will retire here.”
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