Compare towns
Burlington vs Melrose 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).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Melrose | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
29,650Highest |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.6±1.1Lowest 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% |
20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Melrose 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% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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 |
$133,953±$14k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,970±$149Lowest 12% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,578 26% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.2%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 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Melrose | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Melrose High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.8Highest |
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.