Compare towns
Whiting vs Newfields vs Orwell vs Athens
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Newfields | Orwell | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,023Highest |
1,294 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Athens 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Athens 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% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,438 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±39 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Athens 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 | Newfields School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.