Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Thornton
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 the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,355 |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% 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. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% 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. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below 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. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Dedham 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% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Stoneham 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Stoneham | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.