Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Stoneham vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Marshfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).
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 | Stoneham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
23,355Lowest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Stoneham 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 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$125,986±$8k 21% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marshfield and Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Stoneham | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Stoneham High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.