Compare towns
Dedham vs Athol 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).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Athol | Stoneham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
12,011Lowest |
23,355 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| 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%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Athol 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% |
19.3%±2.3 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% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Athol-Royalston | Stoneham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Athol High | Stoneham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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.