Compare towns
Orange vs Oakham vs Athol vs Warren
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).
Oakham has the highest household income ($102k).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Oakham | Athol | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,639Lowest |
12,011Highest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
41.3±1.9 3% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,174±$81Highest 33% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
| Oakham and Athol 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Oakham 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 | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin | Athol-Royalston | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Athol High | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
10.0 |
| 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.