Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dedham vs Marlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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 | Brookfield | Dedham | Marlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567Lowest |
1,656Highest |
855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
46.5±2.2Lowest 20% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7 36% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$31kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,000±$61kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Brookfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,422±$607Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926Highest 90% above U.S. |
$3,942Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,826 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Dedham Public Schools | Marlow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → |
U.S. 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.