Compare towns

Dedham vs Northfield vs Ogunquit 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 highest household income ($129k).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureDedhamNorthfieldOgunquitStoneham
People
Population
25,237Highest
2,872
1,379Lowest
23,355
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
48.9±4.2
26% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
14.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Dedham 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%
25.5%±5.1
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$103,375±$10kLowest
28% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$113,964±$10k
41% above U.S.
Dedham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$375,800±$31kLowest
13% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,142±$200Lowest
19% 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
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,594
47% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±25.9
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Northfield 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%
6.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1964
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.5%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #231 of 282 in MA — #117 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Pioneer Valley — Stoneham
High school in town Dedham High Pioneer Valley Regional — Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
10.7Highest
—
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.