Compare towns
Dedham vs Barnstead 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).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Barnstead | Stoneham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
4,994Lowest |
23,355 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% 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. |
42.8±3.1 10% 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%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead 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%±4.8 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% |
30.9%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%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Dedham 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. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% 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. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
3.4%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% |
93.6%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. |
1985Highest 5 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 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Barnstead School District | Stoneham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Stoneham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
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.