Compare towns

Dedham vs Marshfield vs Millis

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).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).

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.

MeasureDedhamMarshfieldMillis
People
Population
25,237
25,879Highest
8,888Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.8%
MA: +7.4%
+7.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
46.4±3Highest
16% above MA
Millis and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.4%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.5%±3.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millis and Dedham 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%
52.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
54.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Millis 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
$125,986±$8kLowest
21% above MA
$155,996±$9kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$680,300±$27kHighest
21% above MA
$603,500±$31kLowest
7% 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
$1,772±$123
about the MA average
$1,696±$279Lowest
4% below MA
Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
32% above MA
$6,656Lowest
11% above MA
$9,344Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.5%±16.6
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%
MA: 10%
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.8%
MA: 62.5%
83.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minLowest
about the MA average
35 minHighest
19% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
17.5%±4.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield and Dedham 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 #54 of 282 in MA #63 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Marshfield Millis
High school in town Dedham High Marshfield High Millis High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
11.0Highest
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.