Compare towns
Whiting vs Wayne vs Orwell vs Shoreham
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 renters (34.6% rent).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Shoreham has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Wayne | Orwell | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,033 |
1,294Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
51.8±7.2 33% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Shoreham 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.7 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% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,654±$23kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Shoreham and Whiting 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. |
$266,700±$150kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$316,400±$34k 5% below U.S. |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
$1,306±$335Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Shoreham 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,713Highest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.