What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Sparta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-7.9%).

Orange has the most expensive 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	West Sparta	Orange
People
Population	1,093Lowest	1,196Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.6±11.6Highest 22% above NY	46.6±6.3Lowest 17% above NY
	West Sparta and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.8Lowest NY: 20.5%	18%±4Highest NY: 20.5%
	Orange and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.6%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	22.9%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	West Sparta and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18%Highest NY: 40.2%	16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.2Highest NY: 7%	0%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%
	West Sparta and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,917±$14kHighest 15% below NY	$60,000±$9kLowest 30% below NY
	West Sparta and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$99,400±$20kLowest 77% below NY	$119,200±$17kHighest 72% below NY
	Orange and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$907±$258Lowest 44% below NY	$932±$81Highest 43% below NY
	Orange and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,826Highest 57% below NY	$2,667Lowest 59% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50%±69.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	66.1%±42.6Highest NY: 52.1%
	Orange and West Sparta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.6%Lowest NY: 14%	12.7%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	84.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 16 yrs newer than NY	1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% below NY	30 minHighest 8% below NY
Work from home	7.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	8.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Orange and West Sparta 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.