Compare towns
Stoneham vs Rowley vs Dedham vs Ashland
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 most people working from home (24.6%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
6,251Lowest |
25,237Highest |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$127,539±$11k 23% 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$611,700±$18kLowest 9% 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±$182 16% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland 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 |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,444 24% 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% |
55.2%±14.2 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% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Ashland 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 | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Triton | Dedham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | None in town | Dedham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.