Compare towns
Orange vs Wolfeboro vs Warwick 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).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Warwick has the most homeowners (89%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Warwick | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
6,571 |
776Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
51.4±7.3 32% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Warwick 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% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athol and Wolfeboro 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. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$93,333±$22k 16% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Warwick 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$349,400±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,367±$163Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
| Warwick and Athol 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. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,380 40% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±57.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest 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. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Warwick 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Warwick | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.6Highest |
| 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.