Compare towns
Orange vs Dummer vs Walden vs Orwell
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).
Dummer has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.
| Measure | Orange | Dummer | Walden | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
299Lowest |
1,037 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Dummer and Orange 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% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Dummer 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% |
21.4%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Dummer 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% |
16.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Orwell 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. |
$91,250±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dummer and Walden 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. |
$242,200±$51k 27% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$2,898Lowest 7% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.