Compare towns
Orange vs Exeter vs Orwell 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).
Exeter has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Exeter | Orwell | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
913Lowest |
1,294Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton 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. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14k 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Exeter 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Groton 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.