What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hill has the highest household income ($82k).

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	Hill	Orwell
People
Population	908Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Hill and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hill and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orwell and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,125±$21kHighest about the U.S. average	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Hill and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,700±$41kLowest 6% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
	Orwell and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,105±$51 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,933Highest 58% above U.S.	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 34% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Hill School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None 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.