Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Dummer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Dedham | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
299Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Dummer 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummer 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$91,250±$21kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$242,200±$51kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.