Compare towns
Dedham vs Ayer 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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Ayer | Stoneham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
8,645Lowest |
23,355 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±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% |
42.3%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% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% 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 |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 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 |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Ayer Shirley School District | Stoneham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Stoneham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
10.7 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.