What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.

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

Measure	Hampton	Orwell
People
Population	1,145Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S.
	Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S.	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Hampton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Hampton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S.	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Hampton 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.