Compare towns
Dedham vs Newton vs Ogunquit 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 affordable homes ($662k median).
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Newton | Ogunquit | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
89,044Highest |
1,379Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Newton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 99% above U.S. |
$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$2,370±$81 68% above U.S. |
— | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Newton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | — | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Newton | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Newton North High | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.8 |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.