Compare towns
Heath vs Orange vs Unity vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Goshen has the most expensive homes ($352k 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 | Heath | Orange | Unity | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,375 |
915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 38% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
58±5.8Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$98,906±$10kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$351,900±$25kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Goshen and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$869±$727 38% below U.S. |
| Unity and Goshen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,022 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±66.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goshen and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath and Goshen 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 | Unity School District | — |
| High school 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 | 4 photos → | 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.