Compare towns
Marshfield vs Hamilton vs Dedham vs Kingston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Kingston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Hamilton | Dedham | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
7,600Lowest |
25,237 |
14,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.5±3.9Highest 16% above MA |
| Kingston 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% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Kingston 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Kingston and Hamilton 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% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
48.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$119,876±$13kLowest 15% above MA |
| Hamilton 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 |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$610,600±$30kLowest 9% above MA |
| Hamilton and Marshfield 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 |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,159±$244Lowest 34% below MA |
| Dedham and Hamilton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,650 28% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
35.9%±13Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hamilton 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #99 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Hamilton-Wenham | Dedham | Kingston · Silver Lake |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Dedham High | Silver Lake Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.8 |
10.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| 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.