Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Sutton vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Sutton | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
9,452 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
| Upton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.