What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most kids (22.1% under 18).

Boylston has the most people working from home (14%).

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	Orwell	Boylston
People
Population	914Highest	545Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Highest NY: +4.2%	-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.9±3Lowest 15% above NY	51.2±8.8Highest 29% above NY
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	16.3%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Orwell and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9%	18%±5.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Orwell and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%	27.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Orwell and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$9kLowest 19% below NY	$75,000±$16kHighest 13% below NY
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$112,500±$13kLowest 73% below NY	$140,300±$51kHighest 67% below NY
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$836±$101Lowest 48% below NY	$950±$196Highest 41% below NY
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,324Lowest 65% below NY	$2,500Highest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±79.3Lowest NY: 52.1%	72%±77.4Highest NY: 52.1%
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest NY: 14%	5.1%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 20 yrs newer than NY	1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	33 minLowest about the NY average
Work from home	10.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	14%±6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Boylston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.