Compare towns
Middlesex vs Orange vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Orange | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
7,573Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
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.