Compare towns
Stoneham vs Rowley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Rowley | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
6,251Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Rowley 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% |
56.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32kHighest 28% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Rowley 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±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Stoneham and Rowley 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 |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Triton | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.