Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Orange vs Williamsburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Williamsburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Chesterfield | Orange | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,055Lowest |
7,573Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±7.6 11% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chesterfield and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,967±$11k about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$104,792±$21kHighest about the MA average |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$48k 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$403,100±$37kHighest 28% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$409 39% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,420±$228Highest 19% below MA |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,969Highest about the MA average |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,761 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±84.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg and Chesterfield 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Chesterfield-Goshen | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.