Compare towns
Gorham vs Needham vs Dedham vs North 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
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | Gorham | Needham | Dedham | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
32,459Highest |
25,237 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42±3 8% 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 | 20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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 | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #19 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Needham | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Needham High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
11.9 |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.