Compare towns
Windham vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Amherst has the most affordable homes ($538k 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 | Dover | Dedham | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
5,930Lowest |
25,237Highest |
11,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30kLowest 62% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,917±$2k 106% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,462±$256Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918Lowest 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% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Windham 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 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. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Amherst 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Dedham | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Dedham High | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.4 |
10.4 |
| 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.