Compare towns
Orange vs Putnam 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).
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 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.
| Measure | Orange | Putnam | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
9,292Highest |
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±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam and Orange 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% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Putnam 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. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Putnam 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Putnam School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Putnam High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.5 |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.