Compare towns
Burlington vs Newfields vs Dedham vs Marshfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Dedham | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
2,023Lowest |
25,237 |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Marshfield 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,656 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Marshfield 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Newfields School District | Dedham | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | Dedham High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.