Compare towns
Stoneham vs Swampscott 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 the youngest population (median age 42.2).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
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 | Swampscott | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
15,277Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Swampscott 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% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Swampscott 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±$26k 20% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Swampscott 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 |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Stoneham 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Swampscott | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Swampscott High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.7Highest |
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.