What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burnham has the shortest commute (22 min average).

Embden has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).

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	Burnham	Embden
People
Population	953Lowest	995Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.9%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME	60.6±5.1Highest 35% above ME
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	13.2%±5.5Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Burnham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±3.1Lowest ME: 22.4%	34.6%±9.5Highest ME: 22.4%
	Embden and Burnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	16.2%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	0.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Burnham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,261±$18kHighest 21% below ME	$56,875±$23kLowest 24% below ME
	Burnham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$178,100±$43kHighest 40% below ME	$173,400±$59kLowest 42% below ME
	Burnham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,308±$386 15% above ME	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,897Highest 38% below ME	$1,804Lowest 41% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Burnham and Embden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.2%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Lowest ME: 74.3%	96.3%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1980Lowest 3 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	33 minHighest 34% above ME
Work from home	17%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	18.7%±7.5Highest ME: 15.9%
	Embden and Burnham 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

ME 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.