Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Killingly vs Needham
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Killingly | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
25,237 |
17,867Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| 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% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Dedham 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% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Killingly 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. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Killingly High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.