Compare towns
Stoneham vs Natick vs Mansfield vs Dedham
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).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Natick | Mansfield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
36,873Highest |
23,931 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Natick 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% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Natick 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 |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Natick and Dedham 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Stoneham 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Natick | Mansfield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Natick High | Mansfield High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.6Highest |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.