What stands out worked out from the figures below

Phelps has the most affordable homes ($170k median).

Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	Phelps	Orleans
People
Population	2,254Lowest	2,778Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%	0%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.5±1.2Lowest 3% below NY	40.2±5.4Highest about the NY average
	Orleans and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26.4%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	27.4%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5%
	Orleans and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±3Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%
	Orleans and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.5%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Highest NY: 7%	1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Phelps and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,083±$12kLowest 17% below NY	$77,500±$11kHighest 10% below NY
	Orleans and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$170,400±$11kLowest 60% below NY	$190,300±$45kHighest 55% below NY
	Orleans and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,111±$170Highest 31% below NY	$1,061±$289Lowest 35% below NY
	Phelps and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,931Highest 40% below NY	$2,380Lowest 64% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.3%±15.8Highest NY: 52.1%	50.6%±5.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Phelps and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Highest NY: 14%	8%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	78.8%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 39% below NY	21 minHighest 36% below NY
Work from home	13.2%±6.4Lowest NY: 14.9%	18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9%
	Orleans and Phelps 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	#197 of 484 in NY	#212 of 484 in NY
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.