Compare towns
Dedham vs Stoneham vs Walpole
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).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
| Walpole and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Dedham 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Stoneham | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.3Highest |
| 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.