Compare towns

Dedham vs Stoneham vs Mansfield

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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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.

MeasureDedhamStonehamMansfield
People
Population
25,237Highest
23,355Lowest
23,931
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
42.2±2.2
6% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield 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%
20.4%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
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%
MA: 47.3%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Mansfield 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±$10kLowest
10% above MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
Dedham and Mansfield 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
$603,500±$28kLowest
7% 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
$2,035±$142
15% above MA
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
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
$6,523Lowest
9% above MA
$7,226
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Highest
MA: 10%
5.4%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1964
same as MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
4% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Lowest
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 #60 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Stoneham Mansfield
High school in town Dedham High Stoneham High Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
10.7
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.