Compare towns
Orange vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Dudley | Warwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
11,929Highest |
776Lowest |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
51.4±7.3Highest 29% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 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% |
16.9%±3 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
| Warwick and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
| Dudley and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
| Warwick and Dudley 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 |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Dudley 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
21% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Warwick | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.