Compare towns
Orange vs Dorset vs Warren
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).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Dorset | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Orange 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% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warren and Dorset 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. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Warren 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. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Orange 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% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.