Compare towns
Dedham vs Rowley vs Dedham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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.
| Measure | Dedham | Rowley | Dedham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
6,251Lowest |
25,237 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 3% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Triton | Dedham | Burlington |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Dedham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Lowest |
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.