Compare towns

Burlington vs Lexington vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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.

MeasureBurlingtonLexingtonOgunquitWakefield
People
Population
26,274
34,295Highest
1,379Lowest
27,793
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2
18% above U.S.
47.3±0.8
22% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
42.4±1.7Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
25.5%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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
81% above U.S.
$238,444±$18kHighest
195% above U.S.
$114,259±$56kLowest
42% above U.S.
$134,306±$14k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,600±$35k
123% above U.S.
$1,203,100±$35kHighest
262% above U.S.
$875,700±$79k
163% above U.S.
$723,500±$24kLowest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368
92% above U.S.
$2,891±$233Highest
105% above U.S.
—
$1,958±$102Lowest
39% above U.S.
Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165
98% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$7,779
149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.1%±7.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±7.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1965
15 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.7%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Lexington 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 #2 of 282 in MA — #179 of 282 in MA
School district Burlington — — Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town Burlington High — — Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
— —
10.7Lowest
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U.S. 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.