Compare towns
Dedham vs North Reading 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 population (median age 44.6).
North Reading has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | North Reading | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
15,765Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43±2.8 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and North Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| North Reading 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±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| North Reading and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| North Reading 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 |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Dedham 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| North Reading 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | North Reading | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | North Reading High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.