Marshfield

New England’s coastal charm is embodied in Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock, a Marshfield neighborhood situated right along the water. From the land of the Wampanoag Native American tribe to 17th-century pilgrim settlements, this area and its natural beauty have attracted inhabitants for centuries. “There are a lot more permanent residents than tourists,” says Glenn McDonald, a senior broker associate with Success! Real Estate and an Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock resident. “Of course, there are a couple of rentals on the beach, but it’s predominantly families who have been living here for years.” Because of the permanent local population, restaurants and shops in this area stay open year-round. Residents here have immediate access to several popular beaches and public parks. Students are zoned for Marshfield Public Schools, which receive an overall A-minus rating from Niche. “The neighborhood has five distinct beaches,” McDonald says. “They all have public parking, and they’re within walking distance, but Rexhame Beach is probably the most popular because it’s one of the largest.” The other four beaches include Brant Rock Beach, Sunrise Beach, Fieldstone Beach and Old Rexhame Beach; all except Brant Rock Beach have wide stretches of soft sand. Rexhame Beach also has sand dunes adorned by beach plum shrubs and American beachgrass. During the warmer months, residents flock to the beaches for skimboarding, surfing and swimming. Situated between Rexhame and Old Rexhame Beach is Beadles Rocks, a rocky outcropping popular for striped bass fishing. This neighborhood is also home to Tower Avenue Park, which has a playground and picnic area as well as an outdoor athletic complex featuring multi-purpose ballfields and a basketball court. There are a number of unique eateries and local shops dotting the Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock area: “It’s a small neighborhood-style store with a bit of everything,” McDonald says. “There’s a bakery, a butcher and lots of produce. Everyone goes here; it’s the heart of the community.” One of the most popular dining spots is Haddad’s Ocean Café, a seafood restaurant with an adjacent fish market that’s been a staple in the community since it opened in 1937. Right next door is Brant Rock Hop, a retro-themed breakfast diner specializing in classic American favorites. Residents can also dine at The Point Restaurant, which is located on the Marshfield Town Pier and is only a short walk away from Blackman’s Point. Less than 3 miles away from the neighborhood is the town’s downtown area, which has a Star Market supermarket, an Ocean State Job Lot discount chain and a combined Marshalls & HomeGoods department store. There’s a wide variety of housing styles in this neighborhood – potential homebuyers can find everything from classic Cape Cod dwellings and beachfront bungalows to traditional Colonial-style homes and newly built waterfront properties. “Almost everything on the water is less than 10 years old,” McDonald says. “They all had to be built on stilts to comply with flood zones.” Although most properties feature ample yard space, a lack of mature trees in the area means that a handful of residential streets lack shaded sidewalks. A majority of single-family homes in Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock sell between approximately $500,000 and $1 million, although there are a number of outliers on either end of that range. Townhouses and condominiums here tend to start around $300,000 and can climb into the low $600,000s. “Regardless of the cost or location, houses here always sell briskly and above asking price,” McDonald says. In mid-September, the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce puts together the Marshfield Lobsterfest, an annual community event featuring local food vendors and artisans, live entertainment and cook-off competitions. Lobsterfest is hosted at the Town Pier and also has a number of kid-friendly activities, including face painting and a bouncy house. One of Marshfield’s busiest times is the week of July 4th, when people come from all over to celebrate fireworks at one of the town’s many beaches; the Rexhame Beach Association, in particular, is known for its annual Fourth of July parade and cookout. Depending on their address, young learners may attend either the A-minus-rated Daniel Webster Elementary or the A-rated Governor Winslow Elementary School, which was ranked No. 6 on Niche’s 2024 “Best Public Elementary Schools in Plymouth County” list. Furnace Brook Middle School is rated A-minus and was named the fifth-best public middle school in Plymouth County by Niche in 2024. Marshfield High School (MHS) receives a B-plus rating; the high school football team, the Marshfield Rams, has won several state championships, their most recent win being in 2014. MHS also offers a computer science program with video game design and coding courses. Adjacent to Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock is the Marshfield Municipal Airport, which is open to the public and is also known as George Harlow Field. Ocean Street – or Route 139 – is the main thoroughfare that runs throughout the neighborhood and connects residents to Marshfield’s downtown area. GATRA (Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority) operates the SAIL Marshfield/Duxbury/Kingston route, which runs through the neighborhood and stops at Brant Rock and the Green Harbor General Store. The Kingston and Halifax MBTA commuter rail stations are both approximately a 12-mile drive away and run along the Kingston Line, which travels into Boston. Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock is prone to flooding, although many of the homes in the at-risk areas have raised foundations to minimize the chance of water damage; most of the flooding comes from the Everson Island tributary and generally tends to only affect unoccupied marshland rather than residential areas. The neighborhood’s overall CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4.

The word “charming” may be an overused descriptor for many neighborhoods, but the Marshfield Hills area isn’t famous just because of a few well-known residents—it’s widely renowned for its unique charm. “What attracts people here—instead of some of the other suburban areas around Boston—is the charm and beauty of the village itself,” says Janet Koelsch, real estate agent and resident of Marshfield Hills since 1988. Fans of a certain office-based TV show may be thrilled to learn Steve Carell is the owner of the Marshfield Hills General Store, a fact that demonstrates just how attractive the community is for those looking for a slice of the quiet life.<br><br>“It’s almost like it’s frozen in time, and you’re stepping back into history,” says Koelsch about the general vibe of Marshfield Hills. A walk down the street proves just how historical the area is, with houses consisting mainly of Cape Cod and colonial-revival styles at prices ranging from $550,000 to $1.25 million—though homes on the waterfront can easily go for upward of $2 million. Much like the town itself, the homes exude old-world charm. “I would consider a lot of the homes in the area to be antiques, and even the newer homes are modeled to match the older ones in many ways,” says Koelsch.<br><br>Students in Marshfield Hills can begin learning at Martinson Elementary School, before moving on to Furnace Brook Middle School and wrapping up at Marshfield High School—which earned grades of A-minus, A-minus, and B-plus respectively. After school, students and their families can head over to the Marshfield Hills General Store—affectionately known as The Genny to locals—and enjoy a sweet treat at the recently renovated dentist office-turned-ice cream parlor right next door. Families can also head to the local playground at Brook’s Park, and those looking to commune with nature can do so on one of the trails at the expansive Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary.<br><br>The Genny is one of the hubs of Marshfield Hills (it serves as home to the local post office as well) and patrons may run into Carell during the summer months. Just down the street from the general store, students of all ages can take classes at the North River Arts Society—a big part of the town’s artistic identity. During May’s art festival, artists gather over the course of two days to display their work among a variety of food trucks and vendors. “It’s a very artsy town, so the festival is a wonderful way for us Marshfield Hills residents to get together and welcome everyone from the surrounding area too,” says Koelsch. Fans of classic rock may even run into one of their idols—Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, who is a longtime resident and known fan of the North River Arts Society.<br><br>With more than one famous resident calling Marshfield Hills home, the area clearly has far-reaching appeal. “I think celebrities love this place because it lets anyone who moves here live a peaceful life,” says Koelsch. “Everyone treats everyone equally, and everyone enjoys a quieter way of living.” Those seeking a slice of the quiet rural life, without having to give up on all the urban amenities Boston has to offer, could find just what they’re looking for in Marshfield Hills.