Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange vs Williston vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Williston | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,573Lowest |
10,144 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Williston and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Williston and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151 25% above U.S. |
| Williston and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.