Compare towns
Orange vs Springfield 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 affordable homes ($222k median).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k 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 | Springfield | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,122Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walden and Springfield 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Orange 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Orange and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Springfield 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Springfield 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.