Compare towns
Burlington vs Everett vs Dedham
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 highest household income ($146k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
50,045Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.6±1.6 12% 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above 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 |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 about the MA average |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Everett | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Everett High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.