Compare towns
Reading vs Dedham vs West Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Reading | Dedham | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
25,237Highest |
1,171 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+22.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
54±5.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Windsor and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
| West Windsor and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Windsor and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
| Dedham and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$393,500±$41k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,100±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,860 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.