Burlington, MA Eviction Risk Score Middlesex County · Massachusetts · Population 26,274 · Updated
Sub-score breakdown
Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.
Location & regional heat
Heat density reflects surrounding cities. Click any nearby city to compare.
About eviction risk in Burlington, MA
Burlington, MA has an eviction risk score of 5.1 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Middlesex County and the state of Massachusetts. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 30.5% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Burlington is $2,718/month. About 25.8% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 5.6%, unemployment 3.6%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Middlesex County voted Democratic by 45.2 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 5.1/10, Burlington is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
| City | Distance | Population | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woburn, MA | 2.6 mi | 41,939 | 6.6 |
| Pinehurst, MA | 2.6 mi | 6,845 | 4.8 |
| Lexington, MA | 4.3 mi | 34,295 | 5.0 |
| Wilmington, MA | 4.6 mi | 23,336 | 5.0 |
| Winchester, MA | 4.6 mi | 23,406 | 5.4 |
| Hanscom AFB, MA | 5 mi | 2,110 | 5.6 |
| Reading, MA | 5.4 mi | 25,612 | 5.4 |
| Stoneham, MA | 5.7 mi | 23,355 | 5.9 |
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your research with these guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each breakdown.
- Eviction Process — Step-by-Step Timeline & Notices
- Eviction Costs Breakdown — Filing Fees to Turnover
- Tenant Screening Protocol — NGP 5-Point System
- Rent Control Coverage — AB 1482 & Local RSOs
- California Tenant Protections — Just Cause & Retaliation
- Massachusetts Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Massachusetts
- Middlesex County — compare every city in the county