Compare towns
Foxborough vs Dover vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Foxborough | Dover | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,615 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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+ | 58.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Dover and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Stoneham 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
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.