Compare towns
Orange vs Temple vs Ware vs Dudley
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).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Temple | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,363Lowest |
6,369 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Temple and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Temple 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% |
36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Temple and Dudley 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. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Temple 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. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Temple 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Ware 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| 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.