Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Epping vs Marshfield
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% 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 | Epping | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
7,430Lowest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8k 56% 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$6,656 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Epping 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Epping School District | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Epping High School | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4 |
9.3Lowest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.