Compare towns
Dedham vs Marlow vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Dedham | Marlow | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
855Lowest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Marlow and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12k 37% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% 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 | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160 18% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Springfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dedham | Marlow School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.