Compare towns
Dedham vs Windham vs Danvers
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 housing (typical home built 1956).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
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 | Windham | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,038Lowest |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kLowest 55% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kLowest 94% 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±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,654Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
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.