Compare towns
Dedham vs Windham vs Wakefield vs Mansfield
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
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 | Windham | Wakefield | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,038Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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 | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #179 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.