What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bleecker	Orwell
People
Population	563Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S.	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.
Kids under 18	8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,732±$21kHighest 7% below U.S.	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Bleecker and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$950±$286Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S.
	Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S.	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.