Compare towns
Orwell vs Unity vs Walden
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,375Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest 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. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Unity 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. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.