Compare towns
Burlington vs Needham vs Woburn
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Woburn has the most renters (44.3% rent).
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 | Needham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Lowest |
32,459 |
41,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Burlington and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Woburn 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$111,185±$9kLowest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$673,500±$17kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,221±$77Lowest 26% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Woburn |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.