Compare towns
Dedham vs Devens vs Stoneham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Devens | Stoneham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,723Lowest |
23,355 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Devens 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 MA: 19.4% |
5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Devens 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 |
$189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Devens 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 18% above MA |
$556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Devens 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% |
25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
79.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±11.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Devens and Stoneham 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 | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Stoneham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | 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 |
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.