Compare towns
Stoneham vs Acton vs Dedham vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Stoneham | Acton | Dedham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
24,155 |
25,237 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest 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+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham | Woburn |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.