Compare towns
Burlington vs Epping vs Dedham vs Lexington
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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Epping | Dedham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
7,430Lowest |
25,237 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Epping 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 81% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 92% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Epping School District | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Epping High School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.