Compare towns
Florida vs Middlefield vs Orange vs Rowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Middlefield has the most people working from home (13.2%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Rowe has the most kids (23% 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 | Florida | Middlefield | Orange | Rowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 668 |
352Lowest |
7,573Highest |
453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±6.4 22% above MA |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowe and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
26.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Florida and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$69,583±$13k 33% below MA |
| Middlefield and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19k 56% below MA |
$332,800±$48kHighest 41% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$275,000±$41k 51% below MA |
| Middlefield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256 51% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,313±$576 25% below MA |
| Middlefield and Rowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894 68% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.2% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield and Rowe 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 | Florida | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Rowe |
| 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 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.