Compare towns
Dedham vs Woonsocket vs Needham 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
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Burlington has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Woonsocket | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237Lowest |
43,521Highest |
32,459 |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% 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% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Needham 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Needham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Woonsocket High School | Needham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
15.2Highest |
11.9 |
11.3 |
| 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.