Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange vs Westhampton vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Westhampton has the most people working from home (14.1%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.
| Measure | Dudley | Orange | Westhampton | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,573 |
1,552Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.5% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Westhampton and Whitman 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampshire · Westhampton | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.