Compare towns
Marshfield vs Hingham vs Dedham vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Hingham | Dedham | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
24,283 |
25,237 |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell and Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Norwell 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Norwell 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Hingham | Dedham | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Hingham High | Dedham High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
12.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.