Compare towns
Marshfield vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Walpole | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879Lowest |
26,388Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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 |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Walpole and Burlington 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 |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$740,600±$35kHighest 32% above MA |
| Burlington and Walpole 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 |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656 11% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Burlington |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Walpole High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.3Highest |
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.