Compare towns

Burlington vs Dedham vs Woonsocket

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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureBurlingtonDedhamWoonsocket
People
Population
26,274
25,237Lowest
43,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Woonsocket 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.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
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
123% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165
98% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% 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%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #37 of 38 in RI
School district Burlington Dedham RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Burlington High Dedham High Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
10.4Lowest
15.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.