What stands out worked out from the figures below

Independence has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7%).

Burns has the most people working from home (3%).

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	Independence	Burns
People
Population	756Lowest	888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY	43.9±7.1Highest 10% above NY
	Burns and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5%	21.2%±4.1 NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	18.7%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9%	26.4%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Burns and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	17%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7%	2.9%±1.9Lowest NY: 7%
	Independence and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,750±$15kHighest 20% below NY	$64,491±$6kLowest 25% below NY
	Independence and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$100,800±$27k 76% below NY	$100,800±$18k 76% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$609±$84Lowest 62% below NY	$942±$139Highest 42% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,606Lowest 60% below NY	$2,783Highest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	37.9%±48.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Burns and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NY: 14%	11.6%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	87.7%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY	1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	27 minLowest 16% below NY
Work from home	1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	3%±2.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Burns and Independence 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.