Compare towns
Windham vs Beverly vs Dedham vs Amherst
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 (+16.4%).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Beverly | Dedham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,836Lowest 119% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Beverly | Dedham | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Beverly High | Dedham High | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
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.