Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Stoneham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Mansfield | Stoneham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931 |
23,355Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.