What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.8%).

Patten has the most people working from home (28.7%).

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	Patten
People
Population	953Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Highest ME: +2.6%	-13.4%Lowest ME: +2.6%
Median age	48.4±3.2Lowest 8% above ME	57.8±3.5Highest 29% above ME
Kids under 18	16.8%±4.7Highest ME: 18.1%	11.3%±2.9Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Burnham and Patten 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%	38.5%±3.3Highest ME: 22.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	25.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8%	1.1%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8%
	Burnham and Patten 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	$51,484±$6kLowest 31% below ME
	Burnham and Patten 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	$127,600±$49kLowest 57% below ME
	Burnham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,308±$386Highest 15% above ME	$389±$99Lowest 66% below ME
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,897Highest 38% below ME	$1,199Lowest 61% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±49Highest ME: 48.4%	56%±64.1Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Burnham and Patten are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest ME: 10.7%	23.2%Highest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.5%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 6 yrs newer than ME	1966Lowest 11 yrs older than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 13% below ME	28 minHighest 13% above ME
Work from home	17%±10.9Lowest ME: 15.9%	28.7%±19.4Highest ME: 15.9%
	Patten 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.