Compare towns
Orange vs Oakham vs Washington
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,639Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Washington 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Oakham 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% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Orange 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. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Orange and Oakham 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. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None 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.