Compare towns
Woburn 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
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Woburn | Dedham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,939Highest |
25,237Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% 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 | 17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,221±$77 26% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #169 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Woburn | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Woburn High | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.