Compare towns
Dedham vs Fall River vs Lynn vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Fall River | Lynn | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
94,082 |
101,709Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below 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%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lynn 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Dedham 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lynn | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | B M C Durfee High | Lynn English High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
15.0Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.