Compare towns
Dedham vs Berlin 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 highest household income ($129k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Berlin | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
3,378Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Berlin 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 |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% 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±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Berlin 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.