Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ayer vs Dedham vs Kingston
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%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Ayer | Dedham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
8,645Lowest |
25,237 |
14,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.5±3.9Highest 16% above MA |
| Kingston and Marshfield 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Kingston 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Dedham 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$119,876±$13k 15% 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$610,600±$30k 9% 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±$123 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,159±$244Lowest 34% 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 | $6,656 11% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,650 28% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Dedham | Kingston · Silver Lake |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Dedham High | Silver Lake Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.5 |
10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.