Compare towns
Orange vs Jackson vs Wells
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
897Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 29% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson and Wells 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% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Wells 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. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282Lowest 7% 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. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Jackson 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
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.