Compare towns
Burlington vs Acton vs Dedham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Burlington | Acton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
24,155Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% 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 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Acton and Burlington 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 |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Acton-Boxborough | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.