Compare towns
Stoneham vs Webster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Webster | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,355 |
2,227Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Webster and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Stoneham 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%±1.3Lowest 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% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% 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. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Merrimack Valley 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.