Compare towns
Orange vs Oakham vs Concord vs Wells
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 most people working from home (13.5%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Oakham | Concord | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,145 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
49.8±6.6 28% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Concord 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Wells 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$73,304±$9k 9% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Wells 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$159,300±$8kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,111±$29Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,026Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±82.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
39 min 46% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Quabbin | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.