Compare towns

Windham vs Dedham vs Pelham

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%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Pelham has the most affordable homes ($553k 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.

MeasureWindhamDedhamPelham
People
Population
16,038
25,237Highest
14,449Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
Dedham and Pelham 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%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Pelham 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%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$128,955±$10kLowest
60% above U.S.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kLowest
66% 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.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,918Lowest
154% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Dedham 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%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #119 of 282 in MA #48 of 120 in NH
School district Windham School District Dedham Pelham School District
High school in town Windham High School Dedham High Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.4Lowest
10.4Lowest
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.