Compare towns
Orange vs Warner vs Webster 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).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
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 | Warner | Webster | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Highest |
2,959 |
2,227Lowest |
5,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±4 12% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Warner 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% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Orange 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% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner and Orange 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% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Warner and Webster 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. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner 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. |
$353,100±$22kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$333,700±$35k about the U.S. average |
| Warner and Webster 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. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Warner 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Warner 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 | — | — | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Kearsarge Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 10.0Highest |
| 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.