Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Mansfield
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%).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham 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% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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±$10k 24% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.