Compare towns

Bleecker vs Orwell vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bleecker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Ashland has the shortest commute (25 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.

MeasureBleeckerOrwellAshland
People
Population
563Lowest
1,294Highest
701
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-13%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
59.7±2.9Highest
53% above U.S.
47.5±7Lowest
22% above U.S.
55.2±6.8
42% above U.S.
Bleecker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
Orwell and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.5%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
32.2%±8.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bleecker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Ashland and Orwell 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±$22k
13% below U.S.
$69,583±$23kLowest
14% 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
$247,300±$47k
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$950±$286Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,105±$51
22% below U.S.
$1,140±$135Highest
19% below U.S.
Ashland and Orwell 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.
$3,914
25% above U.S.
$4,340Highest
39% 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%
48.3%±41.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Ashland 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%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
13% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±6.9Lowest
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 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.