Compare towns
Burlington vs Danvers vs Wakefield 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 highest household income ($146k).
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Danvers | Wakefield | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
28,098Highest |
27,793 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Burlington and Danvers 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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 |
$125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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 |
$644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Burlington 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.