Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Epping 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
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Dover | Epping | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,308Lowest |
7,430 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Stoneham 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Dedham 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. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,742±$576Lowest 23% 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Epping School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Epping High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.