Compare towns
Dedham vs Thomaston 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 most expensive homes ($662k median).
Thomaston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Thomaston | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,492Lowest |
12,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±7.7 7% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Thomaston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thomaston and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest 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±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$103,218±$15k 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$282,600±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,037±$147Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,915 90% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.9%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Thomaston 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Windsor Locks 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 | #106 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Dedham | Thomaston School District | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Thomaston High School | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.7Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.