Compare towns
Orange vs Unity vs Walden vs Orwell
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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Unity | Walden | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,375Highest |
1,037 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Walden and Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orange 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 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 | Unity School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.