Compare towns
Dedham vs Durham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,681Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 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+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% 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 | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above 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 | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% below 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.