Compare towns
Marshfield vs Dover vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($680k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Marshfield | Dover | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
2,308Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA |
| Dover and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Marshfield 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | — | Burlington |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | — | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.