Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Ashburnham | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ashburnham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11k 14% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kLowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.