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Home Buying Tips, Home Buyer TipsBurlington MA vs Wilmington MA: What Can Your Budget Buy?
What does your budget buy in Wilmington MA compared with Burlington?
Based on recent local market data, the median sale price in Burlington is $825,000, while the median in Wilmington MA is $747,500. That is a gap of $77,500 at the area level. Where your budget lands relative to each median matters more than the headline number, because property type, condition, and commute access change what the same dollars buy.
Key Takeaways
- Burlington's median sale price is $825,000 versus $747,500 in Wilmington MA, based on aggregated public listing data for the trailing 90 days as of October 2026.
- Homes that sold in Burlington had a median of 48 days on market, compared with 55 days in Wilmington.
- Burlington had 44 active listings and 45 sales over roughly 90 days, so choice is real but not unlimited.
- Statewide in September 2026, the single-family median was $670,000 and the condo median was $525,000, which is why condos are the usual entry point in any Greater Boston town.
- Negotiating room is listing-specific, so neither town should be treated as uniformly a buyer's or seller's market.
How much does the same budget buy in Burlington versus Wilmington MA?
Wilmington MA sits about $77,500 below Burlington at the median, so the same budget generally stretches a little further there. That is an area-level comparison, though, and a single home's price depends on its condition, street, build year, and timing.
Here is how the two towns compare, alongside several neighboring communities we work in.
| Area | Median Sale Price | Median Days on Market |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $825,000 | 48 |
| Billerica | $699,900 | 56 |
| Woburn | $730,000 | 54 |
| Wilmington | $747,500 | 55 |
| Chelmsford | $652,500 | 51 |
| Reading | $913,750 | 62 |
| Stoneham | $820,000 | 50 |
| Wakefield | $787,500 | 51 |
The days-on-market column counts homes that actually sold, so it describes how long those listings were marketed before closing out, not how quickly a buyer can get one under contract.
What do the medians not tell you?
They don't tell you what a representative home looks like. A median blends condos, single-family homes, updated houses, and tired ones into one number.
Small samples make this worse. Burlington had only 13 reported single-family sales in September 2026, and a month like that can swing on the mix of homes that happened to close. Treat any one month as a snapshot, not as the price you must pay.
For context, the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® September 2026 data, as reported by Boston Agent Magazine, put the statewide single-family median at $670,000, up 2.4% year over year. The condo median was $525,000, unchanged. Both are statewide figures, so they frame the market but don't predict a Burlington or Wilmington price.
What does each budget tier look like in Burlington and Wilmington MA?
Think in three bands relative to each town's median: below it, around it, and above it. What each band buys is different, and the pattern repeats in both towns.
| Budget position | What it tends to buy | What to verify on each listing |
|---|---|---|
| Below the town median | Condos, plus single-family homes that need updating or a full rehab | Condo fees, age of major systems, scope of renovation work |
| Around the town median | The core of the single-family market, in a range of conditions | Bedroom and bath count, living area, lot size, year built |
| Above the town median | Updated or larger homes, and sometimes new construction | Quality of the renovation, permits for past work, lot characteristics |
Where do condos fit?
Condos are the most common route to a lower price point. Burlington has condominium availability, and that is one reason a budget under its median can still find options there. Wilmington's inventory leans more toward suburban single-family homes, so a buyer with a condo-sized budget may have fewer choices in Wilmington MA.
We'd rather you compare condos with condos and single-family with single-family. Setting a Burlington condo against a Wilmington single-family home tells you nothing useful about value.
What about single-family homes and rehabs?
If your budget is near or below the median and you want a single-family home, a house that needs work is often where the numbers open up. That is a big part of what we do with ugly houses, teardowns, and rehabs: price the work honestly before you fall for the square footage.
Lot size is the other tradeoff. People often assume Wilmington offers more land and Burlington more convenience. That can be true listing by listing, but it isn't a rule, so check lot size and living area on each address rather than relying on the town name. Your exact number depends on what you want, and that is where a side-by-side search with us comes in.
If Burlington is your anchor and you're weighing other towns, our breakdowns of Burlington versus Woburn and Burlington versus Billerica use the same like-for-like approach.
How do commute and timing change what your budget is worth?
A lower price isn't automatically a better deal if the commute costs you time every day, and a higher price can be worth it if the location does real work for you. Run both numbers before deciding.
How does access differ?
Burlington is near Interstate 95/Route 128 and Route 3, with major employment and retail close by. If your day revolves around driving to nearby job centers, that proximity is a large part of what the higher median pays for.
Wilmington has its own commuter-rail station on the MBTA Lowell Line. Homes near the station and in established neighborhoods can price differently from homes farther away, so two Wilmington MA listings at the same price may serve a commute very differently. If rail matters to you, make station distance one of the first things you check.
Is 2026 a good time to negotiate?
September 2026 Greater Boston data shows more active inventory and longer median market time than a year earlier. That generally helps buyers, but it doesn't apply evenly.
In Burlington, recent local market data shows 44 active listings, 19 new listings in the last 30 days, and 45 sales over about 90 days. A well-priced, move-in-ready home can still draw competition, while a stale or overpriced one gives you room to negotiate. We always read the individual listing: its days on market, price history, condition, and price band. If a house does attract competing offers, our guide to winning a bidding war in Burlington covers the strategy.
What should you do before you tour?
- Get a lender pre-approval so your budget is a real number, not a guess. The number your lender approves and the number you're comfortable paying monthly can differ.
- Decide your property type first: condo, single-family, or a house to renovate.
- Compare property taxes in each town, since they change your monthly cost. Our post on comparing property taxes in Burlington and nearby towns is a good starting point.
- Ask us for a same-date-range MLS comparison of Burlington and Wilmington MA listings in your price band, so you aren't mixing stale sold data with current asking prices.
When you go under contract, your real estate attorney handles the closing and the funds in Massachusetts, so line that professional up early.
Want to see how our past clients felt about the process? Read our reviews on Google, Zillow, and Realtor.com.
FAQ
Is Burlington, MA more expensive than Wilmington, MA?
Yes, at the median. Recent local market data shows $825,000 in Burlington versus $747,500 in Wilmington MA, a difference of $77,500. Individual homes vary widely, so a specific Wilmington house can cost more than a specific Burlington one.
What can I buy in Burlington vs Wilmington with a $700,000, $900,000, or $1.2 million budget?
It depends on where each figure sits against the $825,000 median. At $700,000 you're below it, so expect condos or single-family homes that need updating. At $900,000 you're above it, which opens more single-family choices. At $1.2 million you're well above it, which widens your options toward updated or larger homes. Live listings decide the specifics, so ask us to run your number.
Are condos more affordable in Burlington or Wilmington?
Condos are generally the lower-priced entry point in both towns. Statewide, the September 2026 condo median was $525,000 versus $670,000 for single-family homes, per Boston Agent Magazine's report of MAR data. Which town is cheaper for a condo depends on current listings and condo fees, so compare specific units.
How much house can I afford in Burlington or Wilmington with today's mortgage rates?
Your lender can answer that precisely, and a pre-approval is the right starting point. Your approval, down payment, taxes, and monthly comfort level all shape the answer. We can then match that number to what's actually on the market in each town.
Is 2026 a better time to negotiate on a home in Greater Boston?
Conditions are somewhat friendlier to buyers than a year earlier, with more active inventory and longer market time in September 2026 data. But negotiating room varies by town, price band, condition, and property type. We look at each listing's history before recommending how hard to push.
The core takeaway: Wilmington MA generally gives you more room at the median, Burlington gives you proximity to Route 128, Route 3, and major employers, and the right answer depends on your property type and daily routine. We'll compare live listings in both towns for your exact budget. Get a free home valuation if you're selling to buy, or download our free Seller's Guide.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Vicky Kustov, Real Estate Sales. Each office is independently owned and operated. This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice; confirm your own numbers with your real estate attorney, tax advisor, or lender.
