Compare towns

Dedham vs Stoneham vs Woonsocket

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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureDedhamStonehamWoonsocket
People
Population
25,237
23,355Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Stoneham 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%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
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%
19.8%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%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below 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.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below 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.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Woonsocket 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1964Highest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Dedham Stoneham RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Dedham High Stoneham High Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
10.7
15.2Highest
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.