Compare towns
Rupert vs Stoneham vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 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 | Rupert | Stoneham | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676Lowest |
23,355Highest |
2,092 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Stoneham | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | — | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.


