Compare towns
Dedham vs Jackson vs Stoneham vs Mansfield
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 highest household income ($129k).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Jackson | Stoneham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
897Lowest |
23,355 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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. |
$1,750±$1kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% 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 | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,001Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Jackson 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Jackson School District | Stoneham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Stoneham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.