Compare towns
Stoneham vs Boston vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Boston | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
666,442Highest |
25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% 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%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% 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±$26k 20% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham 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 |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Boston 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% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Boston Latin School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
18.7Highest |
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.