Compare towns

Marshfield vs Chicopee 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%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldChicopeeDedhamKingston
People
Population
25,879
55,295Highest
25,237
14,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
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%
19.2%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Kingston 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%
19.5%±1.4Lowest
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%
22.9%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%
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Marshfield 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
$62,615±$6kLowest
40% below MA
$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
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% 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
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,159±$244
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
$3,847Lowest
36% 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%
52%±5.6
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%
17.3%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%
MA: 62.5%
55.7%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
1958
6 yrs older 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
21 minLowest
27% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
19.5%±4.9
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 #247 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #99 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Chicopee Dedham Kingston · Silver Lake
High school in town Marshfield High Chicopee Comprehensive High School Dedham High Silver Lake Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
11.2
10.4Lowest
12.0Highest
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.