Compare towns
Orange vs Danby vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Orange | Danby | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,133Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Danby and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,321±$13kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Danby and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,400±$41kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Danby and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$794±$166 44% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,543Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Danby and Athol 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.