Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover 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
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dedham | Dover | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
2,308Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dover 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Dedham 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | — | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.