Compare towns
Dedham vs Cornwall vs Wakefield 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
Cornwall has the most affordable homes ($458k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Cornwall | Wakefield | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,208Lowest |
27,793Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
| Cornwall 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Cornwall 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | 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.