Compare towns
Ayer vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Ayer | Dedham | Stoneham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
9,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Lowest 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 | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% 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 | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% 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 | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Dedham | Stoneham | Plainville |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.