Compare towns
Amherst vs Dedham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Amherst | Dedham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
25,237Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 213% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Dedham | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Dedham High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.