Compare towns
Burlington vs Hingham vs Wakefield 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Hingham | Wakefield | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
24,283Lowest |
27,793Highest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
| Hingham and Burlington 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Wakefield 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.7% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,465±$603 40% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
| Burlington and Hingham 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 |
$7,779 30% above MA |
$6,656 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #179 of 282 in MA | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Hingham | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Hingham High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.0 |
| 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.