Compare towns
Marshfield vs Springfield 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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Springfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
154,749Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Marshfield 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% 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 |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Dedham 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Springfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Springfield Central High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
12.2Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.