What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the most people working from home (10.8%).

Thurston has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Thurston
People
Population	1,050Lowest	1,097Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-7.2%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	50.3±7Highest 26% above NY	49.7±3.7Lowest 25% above NY
	Burlington and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.7%±3.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Thurston and Burlington 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%	21.3%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Burlington and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	11.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	12.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest NY: 7%	3.1%±1.5Highest NY: 7%
	Thurston and Burlington 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	$73,409±$14kHighest 15% below NY
	Thurston 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	$138,800±$8kLowest 67% below NY
	Burlington and Thurston 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	$1,125±$264Highest 31% below NY
	Thurston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 54% below NY	$3,406Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.4%±86.4Highest NY: 52.1%	33.3%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Burlington and Thurston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest NY: 14%	3.4%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%	92.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 14 yrs newer than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest about the NY average	26 minLowest 20% below NY
Work from home	10.8%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9%	3.5%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9%
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.