Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Rye
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Burlington 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 | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.