Compare towns
Dedham vs Windham vs Needham vs Needham
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 renters (26.6% rent).
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 | Windham | Needham | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,038Lowest |
32,459Highest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 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 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Windham School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Windham High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.9 |
— |
| 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.