Compare towns
Stoneham vs Woonsocket vs Wakefield vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Woonsocket | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
43,521Highest |
27,793 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket 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 41% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | — | Woonsocket High School | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.