Compare towns
Orwell vs Exeter vs Troy vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Exeter | Troy | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
913Lowest |
1,749Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest 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 | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 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 | 10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Troy School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.