Compare towns
Orange vs Douglas vs Warwick vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Warwick has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Athol has the shortest commute (26 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 | Orange | Douglas | Warwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
9,207Highest |
776Lowest |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Warwick and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Warwick 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5% MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Athol 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 46% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$93,333±$22k 10% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
| Douglas and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 31% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol 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 MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
21% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Douglas | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Douglas High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.