Compare towns
Stoneham vs Wells vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wells | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
11,713Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield 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 102% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #22 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Wells High School | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.