Compare towns
Orange vs Sharon vs Alexandria
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%).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Alexandria has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Sharon | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 320Lowest |
442 |
1,983Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +10.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
52.6±5Highest 21% above NH |
| Alexandria and Sharon 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% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon 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% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon and Alexandria 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% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Orange and Alexandria 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 |
$113,125±$19k 14% above NH |
$89,194±$8kLowest 10% below NH |
| Orange and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$35kLowest 25% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
$323,300±$27k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
$1,135±$273Lowest 24% below NH |
| Sharon and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132 23% below NH |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
$5,021Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±40.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alexandria and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Alexandria 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.