What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lower Burrell has the most affordable homes ($199k median).

Butler has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Lower Burrell	Butler
People
Population	11,633Highest	9,827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest PA: +2.4%	+2.9%Highest PA: +2.4%
Median age	46.8±3.3Highest 14% above PA	46.2±3.4Lowest 13% above PA
	Lower Burrell and Butler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±3.2Highest PA: 20.4%	19%±4.1Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Lower Burrell and Butler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±3.3Highest PA: 19.5%	22.9%±3.5Lowest PA: 19.5%
	Lower Burrell and Butler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.1%Highest PA: 35.2%	30.2%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.2Lowest PA: 6.1%	5%±1.7Highest PA: 6.1%
	Butler and Lower Burrell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,602±$8kLowest 9% above PA	$108,514±$12kHighest 39% above PA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,600±$10kLowest 22% below PA	$252,900±$19kHighest about the PA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$911±$142Lowest 25% below PA	$1,620±$321Highest 34% above PA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,395Highest about the PA average	$3,055Lowest 8% below PA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±16.2Highest PA: 48.2%	30.8%±9.8Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Lower Burrell and Butler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest PA: 11.7%	6.4%Lowest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Lowest PA: 69.3%	86.2%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Lowest 3 yrs older than PA	1991Highest 26 yrs newer than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the PA average	25 minLowest 3% below PA
Work from home	12%±3.4Lowest PA: 15.6%	14.7%±5Highest PA: 15.6%
	Butler and Lower Burrell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#522 of 764 in PA	#601 of 764 in PA
School district	Burrell SD	Hazleton Area SD
High school in town	Burrell HS	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

PA 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.