Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Plainfield | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
616Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
| Plainfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below 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 |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$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 | $6,523 9% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | — | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | — | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 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.