Compare towns
Marshfield vs Danielson vs Dedham vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Danielson | Dedham | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
4,209Lowest |
25,237 |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
34.5±3.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.1±3.1Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Scituate 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Dedham 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 56% above U.S. |
$64,050±$15kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$136,732±$16kHighest 69% above U.S. |
| Scituate and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$847,600±$25kHighest 155% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,235±$194Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,609±$311 14% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$4,009Lowest 29% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,807Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Dedham | Scituate |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Dedham High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.