What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the highest household income ($88k).

Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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	Unity	Orwell
People
Population	1,375Highest	1,294Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S.	47.5±7Lowest 22% above U.S.
	Unity and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S.	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Unity and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S.	$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,105±$51Lowest 22% 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	$5,394Highest 73% above U.S.	$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.1%±35.9Highest 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	6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1982 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orwell and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Unity School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.