Compare towns
Dedham vs Swampscott 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).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Swampscott | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
15,277Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% 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% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Dedham 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Swampscott 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 24% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Swampscott 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 |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Swampscott 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 |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.