Compare towns
Burlington vs Salisbury vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Salisbury | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
5,656Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
| Salisbury and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 41% above MA |
$92,469±$7kLowest 11% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 about the MA average |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #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 |
MA 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.