Compare towns
Wakefield vs Upton 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).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Upton | Stoneham | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793Highest |
8,189Lowest |
23,355 |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Upton 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Upton 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±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 14% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Stoneham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Blackstone Valley | Stoneham High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.2Highest |
10.7 |
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.