Compare towns
Burlington vs Concord vs Hingham vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Concord has the highest household income ($195k).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Burlington | Concord | Hingham | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
18,223Lowest |
24,283 |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47k 102% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
| Concord and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
| Burlington and Concord 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Concord 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Hingham 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Hingham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Concord Carlisle High | Hingham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.4 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.