Compare towns
Bleecker vs Orwell vs Minerva
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Bleecker | Orwell | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 563Lowest |
1,294Highest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva 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% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker 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% |
28.4% 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% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva 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. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% 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±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286 33% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% 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 | $3,893 25% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Minerva 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Lowest 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.