Compare towns
Wakefield vs Worcester vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Worcester | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
207,055Highest |
25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% 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%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest 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+ | 19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 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+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% 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 | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% 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 | $7,779 30% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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 | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | South High Community | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.