Compare towns
Mansfield vs Washington 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
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Mansfield | Washington | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
526Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$370,700±$32kLowest 34% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% 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 | $1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above 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 | $7,226 21% above MA |
$4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | — | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | — | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
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.