Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Sturbridge
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,355 |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Sturbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Lowest 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% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% 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 |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,520Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Stoneham | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.7Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.