Compare towns
Independence vs Burns vs Pharsalia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Independence has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7%).
Burns has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Pharsalia has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Independence | Burns | Pharsalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 756 |
888Highest |
563Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.2% NY: +4.2% |
-13%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY |
43.9±7.1 10% above NY |
44.9±11.7Highest 13% above NY |
| Pharsalia and Burns are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.2%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.5%±9.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest 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% |
15.2% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.9%±1.9 NY: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest 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±$15k 20% below NY |
$64,491±$6kLowest 25% below NY |
$77,083±$10kHighest 10% below NY |
| Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
$100,800±$18kLowest 76% below NY |
$126,400±$21kHighest 70% below NY |
| Pharsalia and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
$942±$139Highest 42% below NY |
$913±$521 44% below NY |
| Burns and Pharsalia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606 60% below NY |
$2,783Highest 58% below NY |
$1,925Lowest 71% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
37.9%±48.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
29.4%±100 NY: 52.1% |
| Burns and Pharsalia 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% |
6.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
87.7%Highest NY: 54.3% |
83.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1969Lowest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 16% below NY |
30 minHighest 9% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
3%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Pharsalia and Burns 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 | 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.