Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Stoneham vs Upton
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Stoneham | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,308Lowest |
23,355 |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
| Dover and Upton 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
— | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Stoneham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Stoneham High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.2Highest |
| 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.