Compare towns
Marshfield vs Wareham vs Dedham vs Chelmsford
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%).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Wareham | Dedham | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
23,302Lowest |
25,237 |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelmsford 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| Chelmsford 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$593,700±$17k 6% 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 |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA |
| Chelmsford and Dedham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Chelmsford 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Wareham | Dedham | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Wareham Senior High | Dedham High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
8.6Lowest |
10.4 |
14.0Highest |
| 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.