Compare towns
Marshfield vs Mendon 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
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Mendon has the most affordable homes ($616k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Mendon | Dedham | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
6,325Lowest |
25,237 |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon 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±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
| Norwell and Mendon 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 |
$616,000±$37kLowest 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% 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 |
1985Highest 21 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 |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Dedham High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.