Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampton Falls vs Salem 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
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Salem | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,328Lowest |
44,795Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% 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. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hampton Falls School District | Salem | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Salem High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
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.