Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dedham vs Needham vs Grafton
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 renters (29% rent).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k 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 | Dedham | Needham | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
19,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$131,484±$11k 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$525,300±$37kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,504±$169Lowest 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,117 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Dedham | Needham | Grafton |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Dedham High | Needham High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.