Compare towns
Burke vs Colrain vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Burke | Colrain | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,317 |
1,627Highest |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 6% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.8±7.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
30%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$54,792±$21kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Burke and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$302,900±$63k 9% below U.S. |
| Burke and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,250±$326Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Kirby and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,597 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±9.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.