Compare towns
Dedham vs Windsor Locks vs Pomfret vs Needham
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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pomfret has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Windsor Locks | Pomfret | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
12,579 |
4,317Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±3.7Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Pomfret and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pomfret 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Dedham 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. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,476±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$409,100±$28k 23% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,210±$300Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pomfret and Windsor Locks 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #39 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Pomfret School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.