Compare towns
Jefferson vs Orange vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Jefferson | Orange | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156 39% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Unity 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 | 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.