Burlington, MA vs Medford, MA

Burlington, MA and Medford, MA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.4% difference in their overall index. Burlington scores 173 while Medford scores 172 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $2,597/month compared to $2,477/month in Medford — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Medford has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($679,400 vs $715,500).

Median household income in Burlington is $142,207 compared to $118,089 in Medford (+20.4%). While Burlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, less than the 25.2% in Medford.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 51.9°F). Medford receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 42.6" in Burlington.