Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Hanover vs Ogunquit
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Hanover | Ogunquit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
14,845 |
1,379Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 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±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341Lowest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,342Highest 200% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #69 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4 |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.