Compare towns
Dedham vs Williamsburg vs Needham 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 renters (26.6% rent).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Williamsburg | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
2,694Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham 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 |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%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 |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Williamsburg 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Williamsburg | Needham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | None in town | Needham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
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.