Compare towns
Wakefield vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Dedham
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).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Dedham | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest 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+ | 19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% 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 | $723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 10.7Highest |
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.