Compare towns
Dedham vs Hanover vs Hanson vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hanover has the highest household income ($190k).
Hanson has the most affordable homes ($534k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Hanover | Hanson | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
14,845 |
10,660Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Hanson 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$132,200±$10k 27% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,845±$341 5% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% 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 | $7,918 32% above MA |
$9,342Highest 56% above MA |
$6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Whitman-Hanson | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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.