Compare towns
Burlington vs Ogunquit vs Marshfield vs Melrose
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 the highest household income ($146k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% 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 | Ogunquit | Marshfield | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
1,379Lowest |
25,879 |
29,650Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6 18% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Melrose and Marshfield 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$125,986±$8k 56% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$680,300±$27kLowest 104% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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. |
— | $1,772±$123Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,656 113% above U.S. |
$7,578Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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 | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Marshfield | Melrose |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Marshfield High | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 11.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.