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Living in
Burlington.
Burlington is an unincorporated community in Middlesex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Burlington
If you're considering Burlington, know that you're looking at a solidly affluent Boston suburb with a median home value around $740,600 and median rent of $2,718 per month—this is expensive territory, though typical for the region. The job market is strong with major tech and life sciences companies headquartered here, and your average commute runs about 28 minutes, which is reasonable for Greater Boston. The community skews educated (58% college degree rate) and family-oriented, with two-thirds of households being married couples and about one-third having children under 18.
Burlington at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Foreign-Born
17.9%
Broadband Internet
97.3%
of households
Population Growth
-5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Burlington: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Burlington, the largest foreign-born group is from India (34.6%), and 9.2% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
17.1%
of residents
65 and Older
21.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.8%
of households
Married Couples
60.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.61
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 54% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Burlington
In Burlington, rent runs 54% above the MA average, and home values are 32% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,165
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $867,164 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below MA average
Unemployment in Burlington
Unemployment in Middlesex County, which includes Burlington, is 0.4 percentage points lower than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Burlington: Middlesex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Middlesex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Burlington is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Burlington Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.5 min avg
How Burlington residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Burlington, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 60% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 44% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Burlington runs 44% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
184.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,513.3
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Burlington Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Middlesex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Middlesex County, which includes Burlington, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,400 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $23,700 |
| 2023 | 29 | Flood | $99,100 |
| 2022 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2021 | 28 | Strong Wind | $583,500 |
| 2020 | 52 | Strong Wind | $552,300 |
| 2019 | 27 | Strong Wind | $263,750 |
| 2018 | 40 | Flood | $526,500 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Burlington is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Middlesex County, which includes Burlington, is typically good — 299 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
299
per year
Moderate Days
65
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Middlesex County, county-wide
Burlington is about 2% of Middlesex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Burlington has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
40°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.0"
Annual Snowfall
63.5"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
134
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
138
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 19°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 40°F | 20°F | 3.62" |
| Mar | 48°F | 27°F | 4.89" |
| Apr | 60°F | 37°F | 4.34" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 56°F | 4.21" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.01" |
| Aug | 82°F | 61°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 75°F | 53°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 64°F | 42°F | 4.76" |
| Nov | 53°F | 32°F | 4.01" |
| Dec | 43°F | 24°F | 5.02" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Burlington
Burlington has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bedford VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · 4 mi away · Bedford
Winchester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Winchester
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.5 mi away · Melrose
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education10.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Burlington
Burlington's student/teacher ratio is 10.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 58.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
58.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Burlington (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
12.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,434 students · in-state tuition $17,664 · 68% graduate · median earnings $77,989 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,085 students · in-state tuition $73,508 · 91% graduate · median earnings $112,178 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Minute Man National Historical Park, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Burlington
Burlington has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Minute Man National Historical Park (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Minute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
7 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayLowell National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
12 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayPublic Libraries in Burlington
Burlington Public Library
22 Sears Street, Burlington
Cities Near Burlington
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Burlington?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Burlington FAQ
Is Burlington, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Burlington's median rent is $2,718/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $146,436/year. Median home value is $740,600.
Is Burlington, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Burlington's violent crime rate was 184 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1513 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Burlington, Massachusetts?⌄
Middlesex County, which includes Burlington, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Burlington, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Burlington is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,718/month and median household income is $146,436/year. The median home value is $740,600. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Burlington, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Burlington is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from