What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plum has the most people working from home (23.7%).

Lower Burrell has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Plum	Lower Burrell
People
Population	26,723Highest	11,633Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest PA: +2.4%	0%Lowest PA: +2.4%
Median age	44.4±1.6Lowest 9% above PA	46.8±3.3Highest 14% above PA
	Lower Burrell and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.4Highest PA: 20.4%	19.1%±3.2Lowest PA: 20.4%
	Plum and Lower Burrell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.8%±2Lowest PA: 19.5%	25.3%±3.3Highest PA: 19.5%
	Lower Burrell and Plum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45%Highest PA: 35.2%	33.1%Lowest PA: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.1Highest PA: 6.1%	4%±1.2Lowest PA: 6.1%
	Plum 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	$98,705±$4kHighest 27% above PA	$84,602±$8kLowest 9% above PA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,600±$7kHighest 11% below PA	$198,600±$10kLowest 22% below PA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,177±$55Highest about the PA average	$911±$142Lowest 25% below PA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,948Highest 19% above PA	$3,395Lowest about the PA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.4%±8.8Highest PA: 48.2%	37.8%±16.2Lowest PA: 48.2%
	Plum and Lower Burrell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest PA: 11.7%	7.8%Highest PA: 11.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest PA: 69.3%	84.5%Highest PA: 69.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 7 yrs newer than PA	1962Lowest 3 yrs older than PA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above PA	26 minLowest about the PA average
Work from home	23.7%±2.8Highest PA: 15.6%	12%±3.4Lowest PA: 15.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#340 of 764 in PA	#522 of 764 in PA
School district	Plum Borough SD	Burrell SD
High school in town	Plum SHS	Burrell HS
Students per teacherat that high school	17.5Highest	14.6Lowest
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.