Compare towns
Burlington vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Needham | Ogunquit | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
32,459Highest |
1,379Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Needham | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Needham High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.