Compare towns
Marshfield vs Suffield vs Dedham vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Norwell has the highest household income ($189k).
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 | Suffield | Dedham | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879Highest |
15,702 |
25,237 |
11,361Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$188,699±$25kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
$1,424±$141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Dedham 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwell 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Suffield School District | Dedham | Norwell |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Suffield High School | Dedham High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
10.9 |
10.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.