Compare towns
Dedham vs Natick vs Upton vs Stoneham
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Natick | Upton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
36,873Highest |
8,189Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Upton and Natick 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 |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Natick and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Natick | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Natick High | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.