Compare towns
Dedham vs Andover vs Stoneham vs Mansfield
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).
Andover has the highest household income ($173k).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
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 | Andover | Stoneham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
36,652Highest |
23,355Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Andover 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% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Mansfield 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%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Andover and Dedham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Stoneham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Stoneham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
11.1 |
| 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.