Compare towns
Dedham vs Wakefield vs Windham vs Mansfield
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).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Wakefield | Windham | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
27,793Highest |
23,961 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
33.7±1.9Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.4±1.3 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mansfield and Windham 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%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$55,736±$5kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$209,800±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,107±$69Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$4,633Lowest 49% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±8.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #143 of 149 in CT | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Windham High School | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.