Compare towns
Amesbury vs Burlington vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Amesbury | Burlington | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Lowest |
26,274Highest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Burlington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kLowest about the MA average |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Burlington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kLowest 8% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 23% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Burlington | Dedham |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Burlington High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.