Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Stoneham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,355 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Dedham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Ware 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% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ware 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| 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 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below 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 |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.