Compare towns
Burlington vs Reading vs Dedham vs Melrose
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 the highest household income ($146k).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
699Lowest |
25,237 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Lowest 12% 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest 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% |
4.6%±1 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. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 123% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20kHighest 147% 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. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Melrose and Reading 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 | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Dedham | Melrose |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | Dedham High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.