Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Exeter
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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
16,151Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dedham 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.