Compare towns
Marshfield vs Northbridge vs Sutton 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 most people working from home (24.8%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Northbridge | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Marshfield 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% 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±$123 about the MA average |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Marshfield 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Northbridge | Sutton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
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.