Compare towns
Whiting vs Harmony vs Hancock 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).
Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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 | Harmony | Hancock | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,344Highest |
435Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
41.8±7 7% above U.S. |
33.8±11.6Lowest 13% below U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Harmony 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% |
22.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Harmony 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% |
17.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Hancock 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% |
17.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Hancock 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. |
$58,600±$11kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$76,250±$34k 6% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Hancock 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. |
$128,300±$15kLowest 61% below U.S. |
$187,900±$11k 44% 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. |
$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$939±$19 34% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell 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. |
$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$3,511 13% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.