Compare towns
Stoneham vs Peru vs Dedham vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Peru | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
630Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
52.6±4.8Highest 32% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Peru and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 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±$10k 10% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
— | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 9% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.