Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Stoneham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hooksett | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
15,057Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% 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. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.