Compare towns
Wakefield vs Windham vs Dedham vs Saugus
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Saugus has the most affordable homes ($603k 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 | Wakefield | Windham | Dedham | Saugus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 27,793 |
16,038Lowest |
25,237 |
28,773Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kLowest 81% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201 59% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,049Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Windham 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #194 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.