Compare towns
Dedham vs Needham vs Burlington vs Dedham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Needham | Burlington | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,274 |
25,237Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham 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 |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Needham | Burlington | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Needham High | Burlington High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.