What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.4%).

Putnam has the highest household income ($92k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orange	Putnam
People
Population	7,573Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Orange and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Orange 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.	$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S.	$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Putnam and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$233 45% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,136Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest 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%	7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Putnam and Orange 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	—
School district	Orange · Ralph C Mahar	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Ralph C Mahar Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.