Compare towns
Orange vs Unity vs Wendell vs Athol
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).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Wendell | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,375 |
850Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47.1±8.8 21% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Unity and Wendell 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
22.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Wendell 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% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wendell and Athol 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$65,288±$14k 19% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Unity and Athol 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$290,300±$31kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Wendell and Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,239±$519 12% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Unity and Wendell 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. |
$4,519 45% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Wendell 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wendell and Athol 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 | — | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Unity School District | New Salem-Wendell | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 11.6Highest |
| 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.