Compare towns
Dalton vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Windsor has the most homeowners (96.2%).
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 | Dalton | Dedham | Stoneham | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$115,563±$10k 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% 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 | $872±$70Lowest 51% 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 | $4,276 29% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Windsor 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Dedham | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Dedham High | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
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.