What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dalton has the highest household income ($81k).

Orange has the most expensive homes ($246k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Orange
People
Population	916Lowest	7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±12.9Highest 14% above U.S.	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Orange and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orange and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average	$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S.
	Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S.	$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Orange and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$900±$825Highest 36% below U.S.	$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S.
	Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S.	$4,136Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Orange and Dalton 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	—	Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town	—	Ralph C Mahar Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.