Compare towns
Burlington vs Pinehurst vs Thompson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Pinehurst has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.
| Measure | Burlington | Pinehurst | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274Highest |
6,845Lowest |
9,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pinehurst and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pinehurst and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$146,250±$27k 81% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$623,800±$22k 87% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
$1,946±$1k 38% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Burlington and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$6,316Highest 103% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±58.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thompson and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | — | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Burlington | — | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.