Compare towns
Dedham vs Hanson vs Marshfield vs Stoneham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Hanson | Marshfield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
10,660Lowest |
25,879Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% 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% |
21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Stoneham 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% |
19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson 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 |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Hanson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Marshfield and Stoneham 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 |
$1,821±$860 3% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 min 15% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Stoneham 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Whitman-Hanson | Marshfield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Marshfield High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
11.0 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.