What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.3%).

Preston has the highest household income ($86k).

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	Burlington	Preston
People
Population	1,050Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.3%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.3±7Highest 26% above NY	49.2±8.2Lowest 24% above NY
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Highest NY: 20.5%	13.2%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%	21.8%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.9%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,196±$12kLowest 23% below NY	$85,625±$11kHighest about the NY average
	Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$158,600±$17kHighest 63% below NY	$122,300±$48kLowest 71% below NY
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,025±$774Lowest 37% below NY	$1,292±$173Highest 20% below NY
	Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Highest 54% below NY	$2,800Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.4%±86.4Highest NY: 52.1%	48.5%±75.6Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Burlington and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest NY: 14%	10.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	89%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	24 minLowest 27% below NY
Work from home	10.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 14.9%	11.1%±10.5Highest NY: 14.9%
	Preston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.