Compare towns
Orange vs Appleton vs Walden vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Orange | Appleton | Walden | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,360Highest |
1,037 |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Walden and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Groton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Appleton Public Schools | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.