Compare towns
Dedham vs Lancaster 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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Lancaster | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
8,606Lowest |
25,879Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marshfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Marshfield 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% 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±$182 16% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Dedham 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Marshfield 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Nashoba | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 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.