Compare towns
Dedham vs Bedford 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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Bedford | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,746Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Bedford 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford and Dedham 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% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 60% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
| Bedford 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 99% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274 49% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Dedham 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Bedford School District | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Bedford High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.