Compare towns
Dedham vs Millis vs Norfolk 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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Norfolk has the most people working from home (32.6%).
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 | Millis | Norfolk | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,888Lowest |
11,673 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Dedham 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Norfolk and Stoneham 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 |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,019±$598 15% 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 |
$9,344 56% above MA |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis 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% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk and Stoneham 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | King Philip · Millis | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | 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.