Compare towns

Danvers vs Burlington vs Dedham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.

MeasureDanversBurlingtonDedham
People
Population
28,098Highest
26,274
25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
45.9±2.2Highest
15% above MA
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
Burlington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
58.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
55%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$146,436±$14kHighest
41% above 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
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$740,600±$35kHighest
32% above MA
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$2,718±$368Highest
54% above MA
$2,042±$182Lowest
16% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,165Lowest
about the MA average
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.4%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±3.2Highest
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 #91 of 282 in MA #83 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
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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.