Compare towns
Dedham vs Hardwick vs Needham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Hardwick | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,684Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 24% above MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$4,400Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Quabbin | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | — | 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.