Compare towns
Dedham vs Killingly vs Wakefield vs Windsor Locks
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).
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 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 | Killingly | Wakefield | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
17,867 |
27,793Highest |
12,579Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Killingly 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% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Killingly 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% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest 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. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Dedham 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 | #136 of 149 in CT | #179 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dedham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Killingly High School | — | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.1Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| 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.