What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).

Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marshfield	Dedham
People
Population	25,879Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA	44.6±1.6Lowest 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%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±1.9Lowest 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%±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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	55%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1Highest 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±$8kLowest 21% 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	$661,800±$16kLowest 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	$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA
	Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA	$7,918Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±10Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 19% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	20%±2.7Lowest 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	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Marshfield	Dedham
High school in town	Marshfield High	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.