Compare towns
Stoneham vs Nahant vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Nahant | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
3,325Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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 |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
| Nahant and Wakefield 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 |
$1,777±$334Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% 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 | $6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Nahant | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.