Compare towns
Orange vs Sharon vs Groton vs Chatham
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).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($269k median).
Chatham has the most renters (17.2% rent).
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 | Groton | Chatham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 320Lowest |
442 |
507Highest |
430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -4% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±11.2 14% above NH |
51.1±16.2Highest 18% above NH |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
| Groton 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% |
15.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham 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% |
29.4%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon and Groton 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% |
29.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±2 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest 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 |
$113,125±$19k 14% above NH |
$85,625±$21k 14% below NH |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% 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±$35k 25% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
$269,000±$45kLowest 33% below NH |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,458±$1kLowest about the NH average |
$2,667±$295Highest 79% above NH |
— |
| Groton and Sharon 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 |
$2,873Lowest 57% below NH |
$3,690 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
50%±83.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Groton and Chatham 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% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.7%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange and Groton 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 | 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.