Compare towns
Dedham vs Salem vs Upton vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Salem | Upton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
44,795Highest |
8,189Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Upton and Dedham 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Stoneham 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Upton 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 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 | $7,918 32% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Upton 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Salem High | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.