Compare towns
Burke vs Sutton vs Townsend
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 most people working from home (23.4%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sutton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,317 |
790Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 6% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Burke and Townsend 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% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Burke and Sutton 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$17k 8% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18k about the U.S. average |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 34% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177 66% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Burke and Townsend 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.