Compare towns
Middlesex vs Orange vs Warwick vs Calais
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 the most people working from home (28.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Warwick | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
7,573Highest |
776Lowest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±7.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
| Warwick and Middlesex 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warwick and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,333±$22k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$349,400±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,367±$163 3% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
| Calais and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±57.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Warwick | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.