Burlington Seeks Solution Amid Surging Housing Prices

For many Burlington residents, the cost of staying in town is becoming harder to afford.

Adrienne Mattson has lived in Burlington with her husband, Mark, since 2000, in his childhood home — a situation she said has made it easier to navigate the current housing market.

“My experience is that, honestly, I don’t think we could live here if we didn’t move here 20 years ago. The houses are just so incredibly pricey here,” said Mattson. 

Mattson’s concerns reflect a broader sentiment among residents – a sentiment that became more evident in a recent vote in which residents rejected a proposal to renovate the town’s high school by a 2:1 margin.

Michael Espejo, a member of Burlington’s Select Board, said the decision reflected financial strain among residents. The five-member board is responsible for setting the tax rate and overseeing the town’s executive functions.

“People just said, you know, we’re not in favor of spending more money on the high school and I think that’s twofold,” Espejo said. “One, it’s the economy in the current state, but also because we just approved a new police station and a new elementary school.” 

“So the electorate told us, this is a little too much for us right now,” he said. 

Over the past five years, Burlington has experienced a significant increase in real estate prices. As costs have risen, residents have also been grappling with broader economic pressures.

Recent capital projects have contributed to concerns about potential tax increases tied to additional spending. At the same time, town officials say Burlington’s location and tax structure compared to nearby cities continue to attract residents.

“We have, in comparison, very low real estate residential tax rates,” said Espejo. “And that’s because we have such a strong commercial base here in Burlington.” 

Brian Curtin, the town’s former treasurer and tax collector for 44 years, was recently re-elected to the board of directors for the Burlington Housing Authority, where he serves as treasurer.

Curtin said housing prices have risen sharply.

“The average house prices in Burlington are somewhere between $600,000 and $800,000 and you can’t buy a really nice house in town for less than $1 million,” said Curtin. 

For younger residents and families, those prices can feel out of reach.

“If you ask someone who’s younger, just starting out, just out of college, they’re going to say, ‘Burlington’s too expensive for me and I’ll never be able to buy a house in this town,’” Espejo said. “But if you talk to an older person who’s been here a while and has their house, they may be more comfortable, and their concerns may shift toward taxes.”

Renters are feeling the pressure, as well. Kush, a sophomore at Burlington High School, said his family pays $3,200 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. “This is very expensive,” he wrote in a letter to the editor, expressing concern that rising costs could push families out of town.

Town officials and state leaders are exploring ways to address affordability while balancing resident concerns about costs.

“One of the things we’ve talked about is that we have a lot of programs for seniors where we can try to help mitigate their tax burdens with work-off programs or tax breaks,” Espejo said. “Another thing the state is doing is telling us we’re in a housing crisis, so we’re looking at newer and creative ways to create housing, like accessory dwelling units or in-law apartments.”

As officials consider next steps, some longtime residents say the town’s appeal remains rooted in its quality of life.

Mattson said that despite rising costs, Burlington continues to draw families for reasons that go beyond the housing market.

“My kids grew up here, and it’s a great town to raise kids in,” she said. “That might be the big draw.”

Ella Rogerson is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This story was published in partnership with the Massachusetts News Service.