Compare towns
Dedham vs Newfields vs Wolfeboro 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
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Newfields | Wolfeboro | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,571 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Dedham 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Newfields School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.