Compare towns
Upton vs Stoneham vs Dedham vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($465k 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 | Upton | Stoneham | Dedham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237 |
27,731Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
38.5±1.5Lowest 4% below MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.3%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
32.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$93,310±$5kLowest 10% below MA |
| Upton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$464,700±$12kLowest 17% below MA |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,889±$133 7% 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 | $8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,664Lowest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.7%±8.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Milford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #213 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
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.