Compare towns
Stoneham vs Plainville vs Dedham vs Mansfield
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 people working from home (24.6%).
Plainville has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Plainville | Dedham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
17,551Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5 14% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainville and Dedham 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. |
$84,343±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% 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. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$4,798Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Dedham | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Plainville High School | Dedham High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.