Compare towns
Burlington vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Reading | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
699Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Reading and Burlington 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | 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.