What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).

Hamlin has the most affordable homes ($166k median).

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	Hamlin
People
Population	1,294Lowest	8,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S.	41.9±3.7Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Orwell and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	20.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orwell and Hamlin 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%	27.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hamlin 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.	$83,510±$9kHighest 3% above U.S.
	Hamlin and Orwell 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	$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S.	$1,062±$137Lowest 25% below U.S.
	Orwell and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.	$4,343Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59.6%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Hamlin 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.