Compare towns
Epping vs Stoneham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Epping | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above 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 | $436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% 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 | $1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% 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 | $6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Epping School District | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.4 |
| 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.