Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Stoneham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Webster | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
12,228Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Dedham 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 24% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| 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 16% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.