Compare towns

Monroe vs Orwell vs Ryegate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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.

MeasureMonroeOrwellRyegate
People
Population
786Lowest
1,294Highest
1,059
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51±10.4Highest
31% above U.S.
47.5±7
22% above U.S.
41.2±2.6Lowest
6% above U.S.
Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±7.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ryegate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.3%±8.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,150±$7kHighest
9% above U.S.
$70,417±$22k
13% below U.S.
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below U.S.
Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$312,700±$58k
6% below U.S.
$335,600±$25kHighest
about the U.S. average
$219,300±$32kLowest
34% below U.S.
Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,104±$218
22% below U.S.
$1,105±$51Highest
22% below U.S.
$908±$236Lowest
36% below U.S.
Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,661Lowest
15% below U.S.
$3,914Highest
25% above U.S.
$3,472
11% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48%±39Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.1%±35.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.9%±29.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1949Lowest
31 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
3.2%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.3%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.2%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Monroe School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.