What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most affordable homes ($741k median).

Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burlington	Cohasset
People
Population	26,274Highest	8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA	43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA
	Burlington and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA	$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA
	Cohasset and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Lowest 54% above MA	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA
	Cohasset and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±15.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Cohasset and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest MA: 10%	3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Cohasset and Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#41 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Cohasset
High school in town	Burlington High	Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.