Compare towns
Dedham vs Hooksett vs Burlington vs Stoneham
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Burlington | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,876Lowest |
26,274Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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. |
$101,053±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stoneham and Burlington 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #83 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Burlington | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Burlington High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.