Compare towns
Williamstown vs Edwards vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.5%).
Edwards has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Orwell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Williamstown | Edwards | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,522Highest |
1,327 |
914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 30.7±5Lowest 23% below NY |
34.1±8.7 14% below NY |
45.9±3Highest 15% above NY |
| Kids under 18 | 29.8%±11 NY: 20.5% |
31%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Edwards and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.1%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
14.7%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Edwards are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.8% NY: 40.2% |
13.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±0.8 NY: 7% |
0.5%±0.6Lowest NY: 7% |
1.9%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Orwell and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,170±$13kLowest 28% below NY |
$72,300±$14kHighest 16% below NY |
$69,375±$9k 19% below NY |
| Edwards and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $110,500±$19k 74% below NY |
$101,800±$9kLowest 76% below NY |
$112,500±$13kHighest 73% below NY |
| Orwell and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $788±$129Lowest 51% below NY |
$850±$331Highest 48% below NY |
$836±$101 48% below NY |
| Edwards and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,121Lowest 68% below NY |
$2,225 66% below NY |
$2,324Highest 65% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±43.7 NY: 52.1% |
13.2%±28.2Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.4%±79.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Orwell and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
16.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.5% NY: 54.3% |
80.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
94.3%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 25 yrs newer than NY |
1970Lowest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1979 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 11% above NY |
29 minLowest 11% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 5.1%±2.5 NY: 14.9% |
4.1%±4.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Orwell and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY 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.