Compare towns
Dedham vs Dover vs Windham vs Stoneham
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 affordable homes ($662k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Stoneham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
5,930Lowest |
16,038 |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% 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% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 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% |
16.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2k 106% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Lowest 44% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Stoneham 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Windham School District | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Windham High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.