Compare towns
Orwell vs Unity 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.
| Measure | Orwell | Unity | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,375Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Unity and Orange 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Orange 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Orange 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orange 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 |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orange 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Unity 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | Unity School District | 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 |
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.