Compare towns
Stoneham vs Salisbury vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Salisbury | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
9,281Lowest |
25,237Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% 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 |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 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 | 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.