Compare towns
Dedham vs Cavendish vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Cavendish | Wakefield | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,242Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.2±5.9Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Cavendish 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cavendish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$285,100±$40kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,000±$546Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$3,948Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.9%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.