Compare towns
Burlington vs Dedham vs Ware
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
25,237 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Dedham 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 about the MA average |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington and Dedham 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Dedham | Ware |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Dedham High | Ware Junior/Senior 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 |
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.