Compare towns
Marshfield vs Dedham vs Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock has the oldest population (median age 57.6).
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 | Dedham | Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
25,237 |
4,540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-4.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
57.6±3.6Highest 44% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
9.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$119,310±$24kLowest 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$554,000±$62kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,409±$94Lowest 20% 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,373Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±26.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.6%±11.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ocean Bluff-Brant Rock 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 | — |
| School district | Marshfield | — | — |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| 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.