Compare towns
Dedham vs Hanover 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 population (median age 44.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
11,685Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Hanover 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±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Dedham 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. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Stoneham 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hanover High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.