Compare towns
Ryegate vs Orwell vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Ryegate | Orwell | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
1,294Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472 11% above U.S. |
$3,914Highest 25% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Ryegate 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 | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.