Compare towns
Whiting vs Gorham vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.
| Measure | Whiting | Gorham | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
4,093Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.7±8.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$64,874±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$263,300±$27kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,165±$208 18% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,497Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Gorham 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 | — | #246 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

