Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Windsor Locks vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Windsor Locks | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
32,459 |
12,579Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,456 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Windsor Locks School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | — | Windsor Locks High School | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.