What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has the most people working from home (18.2%).

Alexandria has the oldest population (median age 49.5).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orleans	Alexandria
People
Population	2,778Lowest	3,713Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.2±5.4Lowest about the NY average	49.5±6.8Highest 24% above NY
	Alexandria and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.4%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%	14.7%±3.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	28.4%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9%
	Alexandria and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%	31.8%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%	2.3%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Alexandria and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,500±$11kLowest 10% below NY	$85,020±$20kHighest about the NY average
	Alexandria and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$190,300±$45kHighest 55% below NY	$172,500±$19kLowest 59% below NY
	Orleans and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,061±$289Highest 35% below NY	$730±$174Lowest 55% below NY
	Orleans and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,380Lowest 64% below NY	$2,883Highest 56% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1%	30.4%±10.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	8%Highest NY: 14%	7.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY	1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	21 minHighest 35% below NY
Work from home	18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9%	7.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Orleans and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#212 of 484 in NY	#303 of 484 in NY
School district	—	ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	ALEXANDRIA CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.