Compare towns
Dedham vs Natick vs Stoneham 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 affordable homes ($662k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Stoneham has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Natick | Stoneham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
36,873Highest |
23,355Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Stoneham 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Natick 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 |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,035±$142Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and Stoneham 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 | #48 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Natick | Stoneham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Natick High | Stoneham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.7 |
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.