Compare towns
Orange vs Epping vs Dudley vs Adams
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Epping | Dudley | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
7,430Lowest |
11,929Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 33% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Adams 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Epping School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Epping High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.3 |
14.3Highest |
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| 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.