Compare towns
Burlington vs Swampscott 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).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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 | Swampscott | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
15,277Lowest |
25,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Swampscott 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 |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Swampscott | Dedham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Swampscott High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.7Highest |
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.