Compare towns
Rumney vs Lancaster vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Orford has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Rumney | Lancaster | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458 |
8,606Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Rumney School District | Nashoba | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.