Compare towns
Marlborough vs Chatham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Marlborough | Chatham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207Highest |
430 |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
— | — |
| Median age | 46±9.2 6% above NH |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chatham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323 24% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlborough School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.