Compare towns
Burlington vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Dalton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
6,256Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Dalton and Burlington 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below 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 | $740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 about the MA average |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #83 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Central Berkshire | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Wahconah Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.9 |
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.