Compare towns
Biddeford vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Biddeford has the most affordable homes ($397k 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 | Biddeford | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,498Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,600±$25kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Biddeford Public Schools | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Biddeford High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.