Compare towns
Burlington vs Hamilton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Hamilton | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
7,600Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above 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% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton 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 |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton 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% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Burlington 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hamilton-Wenham | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.8Highest |
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.