Compare towns
Orwell vs Macomb vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Macomb has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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.
| Measure | Orwell | Macomb | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 914Highest |
752 |
545Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.9±3 15% above NY |
45.3±10.9Lowest 14% 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% |
19.5%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Orwell and Macomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
18%±5.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Macomb 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
16.8% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3.6%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Macomb 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±$9kLowest 19% below NY |
$70,417±$20k 18% below NY |
$75,000±$16kHighest 13% below NY |
| Boylston and Macomb 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 |
$126,500±$21k 70% below NY |
$140,300±$51kHighest 67% below NY |
| Boylston and Macomb 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 |
$843±$278 48% below NY |
$950±$196Highest 41% below NY |
| Boylston and Macomb 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 |
$2,532Highest 62% below NY |
$2,500 62% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±79.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
92.3%±51.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
72%±77.4 NY: 52.1% |
| Macomb and Boylston 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% |
15.7% NY: 14% |
5.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.3% NY: 54.3% |
86.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
1968Lowest 9 yrs newer than NY |
1986Highest 27 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
29 minLowest 11% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.9Lowest 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 | 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.