Compare towns
Dedham vs Thornton 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 kids (18.6% under 18).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
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 | Thornton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,799Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Thornton 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. |
$90,022±$17kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,270±$428Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Thornton 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 Our Story | 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.