What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the highest household income ($69k).

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Hopkinton
People
Population	914Lowest	1,000Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+2.6%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.9±3Lowest 15% above NY	46.9±6.9Highest 18% above NY
	Hopkinton 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%	20.8%±3.8Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Orwell and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	25%±3Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hopkinton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	11.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	4.5%±6.2Highest NY: 7%
	Hopkinton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,375±$9kHighest 19% below NY	$61,125±$5kLowest 29% below NY
	Orwell and Hopkinton 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	$112,700±$21kHighest 73% below NY
	Hopkinton 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	$1,000±$169Highest 38% below NY
	Hopkinton 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	$2,333Highest 65% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±79.3Highest NY: 52.1%	11.5%±94.1Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Orwell and Hopkinton 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%	12.9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.3%Highest NY: 54.3%	92.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY	1966Lowest 7 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest about the NY average	25 minLowest 23% below NY
Work from home	10.6%±6.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	12.5%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Hopkinton 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.