Compare towns
Wakefield vs Exeter vs Dedham vs Stoneham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Exeter | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
16,151Lowest |
25,237 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dedham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 117% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #179 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Exeter High School | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.