Compare towns
Stoneham vs Windham vs Needham 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 renters (29% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Windham | Needham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355 |
16,038Lowest |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 41% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Windham School District | Needham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | Windham High School | Needham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.