Compare towns
Stoneham vs Brewster 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%).
Brewster has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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 | Brewster | Dedham | Foxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
10,420Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,615 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.4 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 |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
$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±$26k 20% above MA |
$707,700±$51kHighest 26% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
| Brewster 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 |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% 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 |
$4,397Lowest 27% 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% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster 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% |
6.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Brewster 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 | #160 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #138 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Brewster | Dedham | Foxborough |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.