Compare towns
Marshfield vs Scituate 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
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Scituate | Sutton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
19,365 |
9,452Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% 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% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Sutton and Scituate 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 |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,609±$311 9% 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 | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Scituate | Sutton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Scituate High School | Sutton High School | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.3 |
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.