Compare towns

Orange vs Dalton vs Walden

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 oldest population (median age 50.3).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

MeasureOrangeDaltonWalden
People
Population
957
916Lowest
1,037Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3Highest
29% above U.S.
44.5±12.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
48.8±3.2
25% above U.S.
Orange and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
20.6%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Dalton 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±$13kLowest
12% below U.S.
$81,429±$36k
about the U.S. average
$88,000±$15kHighest
9% above U.S.
Walden and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22k
33% below U.S.
$191,400±$68kLowest
42% below U.S.
$238,900±$23kHighest
28% below U.S.
Walden and Orange 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.
$900±$825Lowest
36% below U.S.
$900±$136Lowest
36% below U.S.
Orange and Dalton 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.
$3,561
14% above U.S.
$3,944Highest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±83.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±86.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Dalton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13.5%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
5.9%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.7Highest
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 — Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.