Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
Sunapee has the most affordable homes ($393k 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 | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,355 |
3,416Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,713±$451Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| 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 154% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Stoneham | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.