Compare towns
Stockbridge vs Dedham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
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 | Stockbridge | Dedham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,056Lowest |
25,237Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
60.7±2.9 52% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,000±$99kLowest 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Nahant and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,652Lowest 22% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 33% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Nahant |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.