Compare towns
Stoneham vs Worcester vs Wakefield 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 most kids (20.8% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Worcester | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,355Lowest |
207,055Highest |
27,793 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| 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 20% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| 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 9% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #117 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Stoneham | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Stoneham High | South High Community | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
14.6Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.