Compare towns
Dedham vs Whitingham 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 youngest population (median age 44.6).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Whitingham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237 |
1,368Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
| Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitingham and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Burlington 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. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below 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. |
$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burlington and Dedham 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 |
| School district | Dedham | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Twin Valley Middle High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
7.8Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.