Compare towns
Stoneham vs Reading vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Reading | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
25,612Highest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Reading 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Mansfield 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 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 | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 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 | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.