Compare towns
Dedham vs Middlesex vs Stoneham 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).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Middlesex | Stoneham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,943Lowest |
23,355 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Stoneham 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Middlesex 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 60% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Stoneham | Burlington |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stoneham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.