Compare towns
Athol vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% 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 | Athol | Dedham | Stoneham | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,011 |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
8,801Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest 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+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±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 | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$67,394±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403 43% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
21%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Dedham | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Athol High | Dedham High | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
— |
| 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.