Compare towns
Dedham vs Temple vs Upton vs Stoneham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Temple | Upton | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
1,363Lowest |
8,189 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Temple and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| Upton 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 99% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% 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. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% 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 | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,983 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Upton 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 | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Contoocook Valley School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.