Compare towns

Dedham vs Hingham vs Danvers 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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

MeasureDedhamHinghamDanversBurlington
People
Population
25,237
24,283Lowest
28,098Highest
26,274
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
+7.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6Lowest
12% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
45.3±3
13% above MA
45.9±2.2
15% above MA
Hingham 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%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
21.9%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.6%±2.2
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham and Danvers 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%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
58.4%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1
MA: 7.9%
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
24% above MA
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$125,395±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$146,436±$14k
41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
18% above MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$644,200±$23kLowest
15% above MA
$740,600±$35k
32% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182Lowest
16% above MA
$2,465±$603
40% above MA
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$2,718±$368Highest
54% above MA
Burlington and Hingham 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$6,654
11% above MA
$6,165Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.4%±10.7
MA: 51.8%
Hingham 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%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%
MA: 10%
5.9%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1972
8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
36 minHighest
24% above MA
28 min
about the MA average
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
20%±2.7
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.5%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #119 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #91 of 282 in MA #83 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Hingham Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Burlington
High school in town Dedham High Hingham High Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
12.9Highest
12.8
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.