Compare towns
Barre vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Barre | Dedham | Stoneham | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572 |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1 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+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13k 4% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest 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 | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$420,100±$20k 25% 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 | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,174±$81 33% 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 | $5,163 14% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Dedham | Stoneham | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
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.