Compare towns
Dedham vs Dedham vs Ware vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Dedham | Dedham | Ware | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
25,237Highest |
10,048Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below 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 | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Ware | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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.