Compare towns
Marshfield vs Lancaster 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 the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
8,606Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marshfield and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$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±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Lancaster and Dedham 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Marshfield 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Nashoba | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | 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.