Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Middleton vs Wakefield
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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
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 | Middleton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,355 |
9,816Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Middleton 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Middleton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Middleton and Wakefield 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% 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 |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Stoneham | Middleton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High | None in town | 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 |
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.