Compare towns
Dedham vs Douglas vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
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 | Dedham | Douglas | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
9,207Lowest |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Douglas | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Douglas High School | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
7.2Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| 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.