Compare towns
Dedham vs Webster vs Sutton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Webster | Sutton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
17,748 |
9,452Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 24% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Sutton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Webster | Sutton | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Bartlett High School | Sutton High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
12.6Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.