Compare towns
Boylston vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Boylston | Dedham | Stoneham | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,948Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
5,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $578,600±$47k about the MA average |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% 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 | $2,032±$350 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% 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 | $7,266 21% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Boylston 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 | #72 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Dedham | Stoneham | Hadley |
| High school in town | Tahanto Regional High | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.4 |
10.7 |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.