Compare towns
Marshfield vs Putnam vs Scituate vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Putnam | Scituate | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
9,292Lowest |
19,365 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
47.1±3.1Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Scituate and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Scituate 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 56% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$136,732±$16kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Scituate 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±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$847,600±$25kHighest 155% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,609±$311 14% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 113% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$8,807Highest 182% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #43 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Putnam School District | Scituate | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Putnam High School | Scituate High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
9.5Lowest |
11.3Highest |
10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.