Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Pinehurst vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Burlington | Dedham | Pinehurst | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
25,237 |
6,845Lowest |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
43.6±1.1 9% 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 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$146,250±$27k 41% above MA |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
| Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,946±$1kLowest 10% above MA |
$1,970±$149 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,316 5% above MA |
$7,578 26% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | — | Melrose |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | — | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.