Compare towns

Orange vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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.

MeasureOrangePlainfieldWarren
People
Population
7,573
15,141Highest
5,009Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.2Highest
7% above U.S.
37±4.5Lowest
5% below U.S.
38.7±7.3
about the U.S. average
Orange and Warren 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%
19.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±8
U.S.: 22%
Orange and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.3%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Orange and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
15%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield and Warren 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.
$76,993±$8kHighest
5% below U.S.
$66,082±$6k
18% below U.S.
Plainfield 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.
$272,100±$16k
18% below U.S.
$333,700±$35kHighest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$233Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,204±$70Highest
15% below U.S.
$890±$174
37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,136Lowest
33% above U.S.
$4,209
35% above U.S.
$4,530Highest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±11.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.8%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Orange and Plainfield 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%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
24% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Plainfield and Warren 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 #131 of 149 in CT #165 of 282 in MA
School district Orange · Ralph C Mahar Plainfield School District Quaboag Regional
High school in town Ralph C Mahar Regional Plainfield High School Quaboag Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
10.3Highest
10.0
On TownTapestry
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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.