Compare towns
Orwell vs Exeter vs Whiting
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 most affordable homes ($243k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
913 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Exeter 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Exeter 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±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.