Compare towns
Stoneham vs Ware vs Stoneham vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Ware | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
10,048Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% 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 | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.