Compare towns
Marshfield vs Mendon vs Scituate vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).
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 | Mendon | Scituate | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
6,325Lowest |
19,365 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Scituate 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Scituate 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% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 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 |
$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Scituate 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 |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Mendon 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 |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Mendon-Upton | Scituate | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | None in town | Scituate High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.