Compare towns

Marshfield vs Mashpee 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

Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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.

MeasureMarshfieldMashpeeDedhamKingston
People
Population
25,879Highest
15,384
25,237
14,027Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6
15% above MA
55.9±1.8Highest
40% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
46.5±3.9
16% above MA
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
14.7%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Kingston 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%
33.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2
MA: 17.9%
22.8%±3.7
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%
MA: 47.3%
44.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Mashpee 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
$95,299±$13kLowest
8% below MA
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$119,876±$13k
15% above MA
Dedham and Marshfield 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
$562,200±$29kLowest
about the MA average
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$610,600±$30k
9% 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
$1,776±$330
about the MA average
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,159±$244Lowest
34% below MA
Dedham and Mashpee 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
$3,762Lowest
37% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$7,650
28% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.7%±14.5
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
35.9%±13Lowest
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%
5.5%
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%
MA: 62.5%
81.9%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
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1982
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
19% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
14.5%±3Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
19.5%±4.9
MA: 18.6%
Marshfield and Dedham 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 #100 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #99 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Mashpee Dedham Kingston · Silver Lake
High school in town Marshfield High Mashpee Middle-High School Dedham High Silver Lake Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
9.6Lowest
10.4
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.