Compare towns
Orange vs Lancaster vs Orwell
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 oldest population (median age 50.3).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Lancaster | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,230Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.