Compare towns
Jerusalem vs Orwell vs Wayne vs Buchanan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jerusalem has the most people working from home (16.9%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Buchanan has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Jerusalem | Orwell | Wayne | Buchanan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,278Highest |
1,294 |
1,033Lowest |
2,397 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34±4.4Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.5±3.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Buchanan and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 21.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,780±$11k 7% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$128,218±$23kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Buchanan and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,900±$59k 4% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$525,500±$55kHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$116Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,953±$836Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Buchanan and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,523 45% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±43.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jerusalem and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jerusalem and Buchanan 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 | 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.