Compare towns
Adams vs Dudley vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Adams | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,074 |
11,929Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Adams and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$74 45% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Dudley and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 13.2% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #230 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.