Compare towns
Wakefield vs Natick 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
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Dedham has the most homeowners (73.4%).
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 | Natick | Dedham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
36,873Highest |
25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dedham and Natick 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% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Natick and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Natick and Dedham 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 |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Natick | Dedham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Natick High | Dedham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.6Highest |
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.