Compare towns
Dedham vs Reading vs Burlington vs Needham
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).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Reading | Burlington | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
699Lowest |
26,274 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Reading and Burlington 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 60% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Dedham 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Reading 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | 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.