Compare towns
Windham vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Standish
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 most people working from home (20%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Windham | Dedham | Danvers | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 19,188 |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
10,662Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% 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. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10k 55% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% 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. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$332 13% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Dedham 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% |
7.3%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% |
91.2%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. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Dedham | — | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dedham High | — | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.