Compare towns
Dedham vs Maynard vs Wakefield vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Maynard | Wakefield | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
10,712Lowest |
27,793Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Burlington and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Wakefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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 |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Wakefield and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Maynard | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Maynard High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.7Lowest |
10.7 |
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.