Compare towns

Dedham vs Johnson vs Burlington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

MeasureDedhamJohnsonBurlington
People
Population
25,237
3,450Lowest
26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Johnson and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
14.4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$146,436±$14kHighest
81% above U.S.
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
99% above U.S.
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$740,600±$35kHighest
123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$6,165
98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±20.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±10.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
11% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
28 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #57 of 70 in VT #83 of 282 in MA
School district — Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Burlington
High school in town — None in town Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.