Compare towns

Orange vs Worcester vs Groton

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 highest household income ($119k).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Groton has the oldest population (median age 51.1).

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.

MeasureOrangeWorcesterGroton
People
Population
320Lowest
831Highest
507
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±9.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
51.1±16.2Highest
31% above U.S.
Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.4%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Groton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±3.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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
47% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
$85,625±$21k
6% above U.S.
Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$302,600±$35kHighest
9% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$269,000±$45kLowest
19% below U.S.
Orange and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$2,667±$295Highest
89% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,132Highest
65% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$2,873Lowest
8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±83.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Groton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
97.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
6% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
20.8%±8.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.