Compare towns
Dedham vs Marshfield vs Norwell vs Ogunquit
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 the most renters (26.6% rent).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Marshfield | Norwell | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
25,879Highest |
11,361 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Ogunquit 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 60% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8k 56% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35k 160% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
— |
| Norwell and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,656 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Norwell 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dedham | Marshfield | Norwell | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Marshfield High | Norwell High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.0 |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.