What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orwell	Newfields
People
Population	1,294Lowest	2,023Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Orwell and Newfields 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%	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Newfields 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%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields 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.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,600±$25kLowest about the U.S. average	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Newfields 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%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Newfields School District
High school in town	None 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.