Compare towns
Burlington vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).
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 | Reading | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
699Lowest |
25,879 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.9±2.6Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Reading and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,772±$123 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,656Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.1%±10.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%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 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marshfield and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.