Compare towns
Orange vs Wendell vs Athol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Athol has the shortest commute (26 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 | Wendell | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
850Lowest |
8,801Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Wendell 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 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell 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 MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 46% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$67,394±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
| Athol and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$290,300±$31kHighest 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
| Wendell and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,120±$173 36% below MA |
| Wendell and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 31% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
21.3% MA: 10% |
21%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | New Salem-Wendell | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.