What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burke	Hamlin
People
Population	1,317Lowest	8,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±4.8Lowest 6% above U.S.	41.9±3.7Highest 8% above U.S.
	Hamlin and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Burke and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Burke and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hamlin 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.	$83,510±$9kLowest 3% above U.S.
	Burke and Hamlin 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	$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S.	$1,062±$137Highest 25% below U.S.
	Hamlin and Burke 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.	$4,343Lowest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.6%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Burke and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 4% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.