Compare towns
Dedham vs Northampton 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 highest household income ($129k).
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k 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 | Northampton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
30,962Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$1,439±$75Lowest 18% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% 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 |
$5,680Lowest 5% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northampton High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.