What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the most people working from home (18.6%).

Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rupert	Orange
People
Population	676Lowest	7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S.	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rupert and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S.	$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S.
	Rupert and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S.	$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$775±$233 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Highest 47% above U.S.	$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Orange and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#275 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town	—	Ralph C Mahar Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.