Compare towns
Stoneham vs Coventry 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 youngest population (median age 42.2).
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
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 | Coventry | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
12,326Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.4±3.8Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Coventry and Dedham 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% |
20.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Coventry 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% |
20.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% |
45%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% |
4.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% above U.S. |
$108,213±$5kLowest 34% above 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. |
$330,000±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,232±$330Lowest 13% 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. |
$5,284Lowest 69% 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% |
62.7%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Coventry and Dedham 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.6Lowest 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 | #41 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Coventry School District | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Coventry High School | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | 10.4 |
| 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.