Compare towns
Orwell vs Hampton vs Walden vs Orange
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Hampton | Walden | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,145 |
1,037 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Orange and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Hampton 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Walden and Hampton 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 |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Orange 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.