Compare towns
Burlington vs Hooksett vs Dedham vs Wakefield
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 highest household income ($146k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Dedham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
5,876Lowest |
25,237 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above 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%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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 81% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.