Compare towns
Burlington vs Mount Desert vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Mount Desert has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Marshfield has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
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 | Mount Desert | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
1,671Lowest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burlington and Marshfield 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 81% above U.S. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8k 56% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kLowest 57% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27k 104% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$6,656Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Burlington 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 | — | #54 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Mount Desert Public Schools | Marshfield |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | Marshfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.