Compare towns
Cohasset vs Dedham vs Medfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Medfield has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Cohasset | Dedham | Medfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,427Lowest |
25,237Highest |
13,068 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.9±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±3Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Medfield and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 76.7% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $199,306±$53k 92% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$235,800±$32kHighest 127% above MA |
| Medfield and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$911,100±$32k 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$559Lowest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
63.1%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Medfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 28% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #26 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Cohasset | Dedham | Medfield |
| High school in town | Cohasset High School | Dedham High | Medfield Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.4 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.