Compare towns
Burlington vs Dover vs Stoneham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k 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 | Dover | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
2,308Lowest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Stoneham 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$14k 41% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
— | $2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Burlington 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.