Compare towns

Dedham vs Killingly vs Stoneham vs Wakefield

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).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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.

MeasureDedhamKillinglyStonehamWakefield
People
Population
25,237
17,867Lowest
23,355
27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
39.5±3Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
42.4±1.7
9% above U.S.
Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Wakefield 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%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Killingly 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
60% above U.S.
$84,350±$8kLowest
4% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
$134,306±$14kHighest
66% above U.S.
Wakefield 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±$16k
99% above U.S.
$288,600±$15kLowest
13% below U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
$1,958±$102
39% 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.
$3,922Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Wakefield 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%
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1968Highest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #136 of 149 in CT #117 of 282 in MA #179 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Stoneham Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Dedham High Killingly High School Stoneham High Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
11.1Highest
10.7
10.7
On TownTapestry
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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.