Compare towns

Whiting vs Wayne vs Orleans

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 most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.

MeasureWhitingWayneOrleans
People
Population
532Lowest
1,033Highest
809
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
62.6±3.6Highest
61% above U.S.
41.7±5.8
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
Whiting and Orleans 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%
40.1%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Whiting and Orleans 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.
$90,938±$17k
13% above U.S.
$57,159±$10kLowest
29% below U.S.
Whiting and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,400±$36kHighest
16% below U.S.
$266,700±$150k
20% below U.S.
$156,300±$18kLowest
53% below U.S.
Whiting and Wayne 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.
$1,031±$304
27% below U.S.
$810±$94Lowest
43% below U.S.
Whiting and Wayne 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.
$3,967
27% above U.S.
$3,019Lowest
3% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whiting and Wayne 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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
Work from home
10%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.3%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Whiting and Wayne 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 — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.