Compare towns
Hanson 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
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Hanson | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanson and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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+ | 42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Hanson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kLowest 5% 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 | $1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% 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 | $6,402Lowest 7% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest 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 | #149 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Stoneham | — |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Stoneham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.