Compare towns
Orange vs Washington vs Wheelock 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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Washington | Wheelock | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,056 |
717Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
51±5.6 31% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wheelock 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% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±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% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Washington 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8k 18% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20k 20% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Washington 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. |
$217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Orange 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock and Washington 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 |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | 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.