Compare towns
Ashland 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
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Ashland | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
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 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18kLowest 9% above 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 | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Ashland and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.