Compare towns
Orange vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($155k median).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Plainfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,016 |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Orange 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. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% 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. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Plainfield 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7Lowest 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.