What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ticonderoga has the most affordable homes ($176k 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	Ticonderoga
People
Population	1,294Lowest	4,705Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.	48.6±2.8Highest 25% above U.S.
	Ticonderoga and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orwell and Ticonderoga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ticonderoga 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%	30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$65,481±$13kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Orwell and Ticonderoga 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	$176,200±$18kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S.	$852±$38Lowest 40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 25% above U.S.	$2,553Lowest 18% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.2%±11.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orwell and Ticonderoga 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%	17.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.3%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Ticonderoga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#378 of 484 in NY
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	TICONDEROGA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	TICONDEROGA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.