Compare towns
Marshfield vs Hadley vs Dedham vs Scituate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Hadley | Dedham | Scituate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
5,306Lowest |
25,237 |
19,365 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Scituate 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% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 21% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
| 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 21% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,609±$311 9% 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Hadley | Dedham | Scituate |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Hopkins Academy | Dedham High | Scituate High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
7.3Lowest |
10.4 |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.