Compare towns
Dedham vs Wakefield vs Windsor Locks 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
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Wakefield | Windsor Locks | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
27,793Highest |
12,579Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% 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% |
20%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,958±$102 39% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 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.