Compare towns
Dedham vs Plainfield vs Stoneham vs Wakefield
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Plainfield | Stoneham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,522Lowest |
23,355 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Plainfield School District | Stoneham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Stoneham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
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.