Compare towns
Stoneham vs Walpole 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
26,388Highest |
25,237 |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Walpole and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Walpole and Dedham 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% 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% |
37.8%±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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1977 13 yrs newer 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 |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
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.