Compare towns
Coventry vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Sterling
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
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 | Coventry | Dedham | Stoneham | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 35,907Highest |
25,237 |
23,355 |
3,629Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±1.1 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,946±$8k 28% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12kLowest 27% 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 | $356,200±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below 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 | $1,206±$155Lowest 15% 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 | $5,099 63% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,551Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±11.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 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 | #24 of 38 in RI | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Coventry | Dedham | Stoneham | Sterling School District |
| High school in town | Coventry High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.