Compare towns
Orange vs Worcester vs Warren vs Wendell
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Worcester | Warren | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Highest |
831Lowest |
5,009 |
850 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.1±8.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Wendell and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 U.S.: 22% |
16%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Wendell 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. |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
$65,288±$14k 19% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Warren 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. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$290,300±$31k 13% below U.S. |
| Warren and Wendell 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. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
$1,239±$519Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Wendell and Worcester 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. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,519 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wendell 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Wendell 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Quaboag Regional | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town |
| 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.