Compare towns
Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Stow 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 most affordable homes ($662k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Ogunquit | Stow | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Stoneham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Nashoba | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 10.7Highest |
| 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.