Compare towns
Dedham vs Pawtucket 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).
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Pawtucket | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
75,893Highest |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Pawtucket 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | #35 of 38 in RI | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | William E. Tolman High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
14.6Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.