Compare towns
Dedham vs Kittery vs Dedham 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
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k 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 | Kittery | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
10,473Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 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%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 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 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Kittery Public Schools | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Robert W Traip Academy | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.9Lowest |
— | 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.