Compare towns
Orange vs Unity vs Dudley vs Adams
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Unity | Dudley | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,375Lowest |
11,929Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Adams 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% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Unity 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±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Unity and Dudley 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Unity and Dudley 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Unity School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.