What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hyde Park has the highest household income ($90k).

Orange has the most renters (30% rent).

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	Hyde Park	Orange
People
Population	513Lowest	7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±10.1Highest 10% above U.S.	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Hyde Park and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hyde Park and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Orange and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hyde Park and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above U.S.	$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$221,800±$57kLowest 33% below U.S.	$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Orange and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,306±$285Highest 8% below U.S.	$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,893Lowest 25% above U.S.	$4,136Highest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.1%±47.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hyde Park and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hyde Park and Orange 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	#59 of 70 in VT	#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.