What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the highest household income ($119k).

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orange	Jefferson
People
Population	320Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH	58±3.5Highest 34% above NH
Kids under 18	20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Orange and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20%±5Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Jefferson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Orange and Jefferson 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	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH
	Orange and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH	$296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH
	Orange and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$867±$156 42% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,132Highest 23% below NH	$4,196Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	16.7%±71.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Jefferson and Orange 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%	8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	90.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above NH	35 minHighest 29% above NH
Work from home	20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8%	17.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Orange and Jefferson 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

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.