What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dedham	Burlington
People
Population	25,237Lowest	26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±1.6Lowest 12% 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%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dedham and Burlington 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%	21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55%Lowest MA: 47.3%	58.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Dedham and Burlington 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 24% above MA	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA
	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±$16kLowest 18% above MA	$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,918Highest 32% above MA	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	20%±2.7Lowest 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	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Dedham	Burlington
High school in town	Dedham High	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.