Compare towns
Stoneham vs Dedham vs Putnam vs Ashland
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 most kids (20.8% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Ashland has the most homeowners (75.3%).
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 | Putnam | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
25,237Highest |
9,292Lowest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest 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% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Dedham 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. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Ashland 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Dedham | Putnam School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Dedham High | Putnam High School | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.4 |
9.5Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.