Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Upton vs Wakefield
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).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Dedham | Upton | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
25,237 |
8,189Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Wakefield 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
59.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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±$14k 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
| Upton 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±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$723,500±$24k 29% 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 |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Blackstone Valley | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.