Compare towns
Stoneham vs Leverett vs Dedham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Leverett has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Stoneham | Leverett | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
1,608Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$104,688±$18kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% 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 | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,779 13% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
10%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Leverett | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.