Compare towns
Burlington vs Hamilton vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k 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.
| Measure | Burlington | Hamilton | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
7,600Lowest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton 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 |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Marshfield 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hamilton-Wenham | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| 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.