Compare towns
Marshfield vs Reading vs Marblehead 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).
Reading has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Reading | Marblehead | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,879 |
25,612 |
20,413Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Burlington 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Marblehead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Burlington 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Reading | Marblehead | Burlington |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Reading Memorial High | Marblehead High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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.