Compare towns
Stoneham vs Saugus 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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k median).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Saugus | Dedham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
28,773Highest |
25,237 |
18,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.5±2.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Saugus 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% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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% |
31.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Saugus 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 |
$101,539±$3kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Dedham and Ashland 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 |
$603,400±$13kLowest 7% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| 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±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,241±$201 27% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Saugus 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 |
$6,049Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1962 2 yrs older 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 |
30 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Saugus | Dedham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Saugus High | Dedham High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
15.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
14.0 |
| 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.