Compare towns
Dedham vs Exeter vs Middleton 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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
Burlington has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Exeter | Middleton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
16,151 |
9,816Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Middleton 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Burlington 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. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
$6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Middleton | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Exeter High School | None in town | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.