Compare towns
Dedham vs Everett 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
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Everett | Burlington | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
50,045Highest |
26,274 |
23,931Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
41.4±1.3 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 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 |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 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 |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Burlington | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Burlington High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.