Compare towns
Burlington vs Ogunquit vs Wakefield vs Stoneham
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%).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k median).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
1,379Lowest |
27,793Highest |
23,355 |
| 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% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoneham and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoneham and Burlington 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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. |
$723,500±$24k 117% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kLowest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
— | $1,958±$102Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,779Highest 149% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% 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% |
41.9%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burlington and Wakefield 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% |
5.4% 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% |
71% 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. |
1964 16 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. |
28 min 5% 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% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | — | #179 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.