Compare towns

Dedham vs Newfields vs Burlington

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 most renters (26.6% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.

MeasureDedhamNewfieldsBurlington
People
Population
25,237
2,023Lowest
26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
45.9±2.2Highest
18% 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%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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±$10kLowest
60% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$146,436±$14k
81% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kLowest
94% above U.S.
$740,600±$35kHighest
123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Lowest
33% above U.S.
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,165Lowest
98% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±10.7
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%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
20%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields 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 — #83 of 282 in MA
School district Dedham Newfields School District Burlington
High school in town Dedham High None in town Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.