Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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 | Mansfield | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
23,931 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3 6% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Mansfield 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% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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. |
$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kLowest 81% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
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.