Compare towns
Dedham vs Hampton vs Windham 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Windham has the most renters (52.6% rent).
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 | Hampton | Windham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,647Lowest |
23,961 |
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. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19k 35% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,285±$288 9% below U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$4,364Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$4,633 49% 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% |
52.5%±51.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest 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 | — | #143 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hampton School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.