Compare towns
Stoneham vs Thornton vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Thornton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
2,799Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thornton 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 41% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 102% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| 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±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523 109% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Thornton School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.