Compare towns
Marshfield vs Devens vs Dedham
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%).
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Devens | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
1,723Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Devens and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Devens 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±$27kHighest 21% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$661,800±$16k 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±$123 about the MA average |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$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 | $6,656 11% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Devens 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 | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.