Compare towns
Stoneham vs Ayer vs Dedham vs Foxborough
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 people working from home (24.6%).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Foxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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 | Ayer | Dedham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
3,098Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Foxborough 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4 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% |
37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$115,833±$9k 11% above MA |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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 |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$606,300±$28k 8% above MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,843±$70 5% 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 |
$4,911Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,275 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Foxborough 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% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | Dedham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | Dedham High | Foxborough High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.