Compare towns

Orange vs Whately vs Warren

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).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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.

MeasureOrangeWhatelyWarren
People
Population
7,573Highest
1,499Lowest
5,009
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.8±2.2
4% above MA
49.3±6.7Highest
23% above MA
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
Whately and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
Orange and Warren 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%
24.5%±6.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Whately 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%
47.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2.5%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Warren and Whately 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
$116,563±$15kHighest
12% above MA
$66,082±$6k
36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,900±$18kLowest
56% below MA
$431,500±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$233Lowest
56% below MA
$977±$125Highest
45% below MA
$890±$174
49% below MA
Whately and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,136Lowest
31% below MA
$5,027Highest
16% below MA
$4,530
24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±11.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
26.7%±29Lowest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4
MA: 51.8%
Orange and Warren 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%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70%
MA: 62.5%
88.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
1974
10 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
23 minLowest
21% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
6.6%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.4%±8.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
Whately and Warren 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 Whately Quaboag Regional
High school in town Ralph C Mahar Regional 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

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.