Compare towns

Burke vs Townsend vs Tunbridge

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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

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.

MeasureBurkeTownsendTunbridge
People
Population
1,317
9,100Highest
1,253Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±4.8
6% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.7±8.3Highest
10% above U.S.
Tunbridge 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%
21%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Burke and Tunbridge 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Burke and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±2Lowest
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±$17kLowest
8% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
$89,464±$26k
11% above U.S.
Townsend and Tunbridge 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
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
$315,300±$23kLowest
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$938±$191Lowest
34% below U.S.
$1,469±$313Highest
4% above U.S.
$1,346±$128
5% below U.S.
Townsend and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,177
66% above U.S.
$6,031Highest
93% above U.S.
$4,645Lowest
49% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.6%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
76.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Tunbridge and Burke 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%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
23.4%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.8%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Tunbridge and Burke 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 North Middlesex First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional None in town
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.