What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the most expensive homes ($267k median).

Orange has the most affordable homes ($119k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wayne	Orange
People
Population	1,033Lowest	1,196Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 57% above NY	46.6±6.3Lowest 17% above NY
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Orange and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest NY: 17.9%	22.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Highest NY: 7%	0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	Wayne and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 6% above NY	$60,000±$9kLowest 30% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 37% below NY	$119,200±$17kLowest 72% below NY
	Wayne and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Highest 36% below NY	$932±$81Lowest 43% below NY
	Wayne and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Highest 40% below NY	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest NY: 52.1%	66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Orange and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	12.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest NY: 54.3%	84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 12 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 13% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Highest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Wayne and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.