Compare towns
Dedham vs Gardner vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Gardner | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
21,148Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% 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±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Gardner | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Gardner High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.