Compare towns
Stow vs Auburn vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Stow | Auburn | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
16,970 |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Auburn | Dedham |
| High school in town | None in town | Auburn Senior High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.