Compare towns
Orange vs Jackson vs Concord 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 most renters (12.2% rent).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Walden has the youngest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Jackson | Concord | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
897Lowest |
1,145Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
49.8±6.6 28% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Orange 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Concord 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Jackson 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. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,304±$9k 9% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$159,300±$8kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,111±$29 21% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,026Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±82.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Concord 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson and Walden 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 | Jackson School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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.