Compare towns
Wakefield vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Salem | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
44,795Highest |
23,355Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956 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% |
21.6%±2.5 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Salem | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Salem High | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.4 |
| 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.