Compare towns
Dedham vs Athol vs Needham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Athol | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
12,011Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% 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%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Athol-Royalston | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Athol High | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— | 11.3 |
| 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.