Compare towns
Orange vs Chatham vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Shelburne has the shortest commute (25 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 | Chatham | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
430 |
530Highest |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
38.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$93,125±$18k 6% below NH |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$280,200±$45kLowest 30% below NH |
| Chatham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,130±$62 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132Highest 23% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
25 minLowest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.