Compare towns
Marshfield vs Hamilton vs Maynard vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Hamilton | Maynard | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
7,600Lowest |
10,712 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton 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% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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±$8k 21% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,800±$148 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hamilton 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Hamilton-Wenham | Maynard | Burlington |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Maynard High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
11.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.