Compare towns
Dedham vs Lee 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 most kids (18.6% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Lee | Danvers | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,719Lowest |
28,098Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lee | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lee Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.