Compare towns
Dedham vs Millis vs Stoneham vs Burlington
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).
Millis has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Burlington has the most expensive homes ($741k median).
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 | Millis | Stoneham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
8,888Lowest |
23,355 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Millis and Burlington 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% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Millis and Burlington 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Millis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Burlington 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | Stoneham | Burlington |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | Stoneham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.