Compare towns
Burlington vs Putnam 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
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Putnam | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
7,120Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±5.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% 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%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam 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% |
17%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$65,511±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Dedham 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. |
$245,100±$13kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burlington and Dedham 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.