Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
5,611Lowest |
25,879 |
| 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% |
+2.8% 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. |
45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Dedham 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest 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% |
4%±1.1 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8kLowest 56% 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. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,656 113% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Dedham 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% 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% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% 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. |
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. |
29 min 9% 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% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Marshfield 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 | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Rye School District | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | None in town | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.