Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ashburnham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Marshfield | Ashburnham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
6,415Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% 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 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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+ | 52.4% MA: 47.3% |
44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% 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 | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,807±$1k about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.