Compare towns
Windham vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).
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 | Windham | Dedham | Danvers | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.3±3Highest 16% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% 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 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 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+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23k 94% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Dedham | — | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dedham High | — | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.