Compare towns
Lexington vs Dedham vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Lexington | Dedham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
25,237Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,718±$368 54% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest 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 | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Dedham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Dedham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.