Compare towns
Orwell vs Troy vs Wayne 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Troy | Wayne | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,749Highest |
1,033 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest 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. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Wayne 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 |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% 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. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304 27% 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. |
$3,644Lowest 17% above U.S. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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 | Troy School District | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.