Compare towns
Bourne 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
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
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 | Bourne | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,323Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above 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 | $575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% 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 | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
10.7Highest |
| 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.