Compare towns
Burlington vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Wakefield has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Wakefield | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 92% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3 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 | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Lexington |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.