Compare towns
Dedham vs Burlington vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Dedham | Burlington | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
26,274Highest |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% 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 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$125,273±$15kLowest 21% 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 | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest 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 | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Lowest 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Burlington | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Burlington High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.