What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

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	Marblehead
People
Population	26,274Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
	Marblehead 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%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington and Marblehead 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	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
	Marblehead 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	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Burlington and Marblehead 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Marblehead
High school in town	Burlington High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.