Compare towns
Dedham vs Wakefield vs Ware vs Stoneham
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).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Ware | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
27,793Highest |
10,048Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Ware 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Wakefield 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 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Ware | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.