Compare towns
Howard vs Orange vs Avoca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Howard has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).
Orange has the most people working from home (8.1%).
Avoca has the most kids (20.3% 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.
| Measure | Howard | Orange | Avoca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,254 |
1,196Lowest |
2,340Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-12.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.1Highest 23% above NY |
46.6±6.3 17% above NY |
42.4±6Lowest 7% above NY |
| Howard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±3.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18%±4 NY: 20.5% |
20.3%±2.6Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Avoca and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.6%±3.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.1%±2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Howard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.8% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.3 NY: 7% |
0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±3.6Highest NY: 7% |
| Avoca and Howard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,906±$5kHighest 14% below NY |
$60,000±$9kLowest 30% below NY |
$67,730±$9k 21% below NY |
| Howard and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $128,100±$25kHighest 70% below NY |
$119,200±$17k 72% below NY |
$104,700±$8kLowest 75% below NY |
| Howard and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$242Lowest 52% below NY |
$932±$81Highest 43% below NY |
$781±$164 52% below NY |
| Orange and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,605 60% below NY |
$2,667Highest 59% below NY |
$2,106Lowest 68% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.9%±64.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±20.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Orange and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9% NY: 14% |
12.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.3%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 15 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 31% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 5.6%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Orange and Avoca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.