Compare towns
Sheldon vs Orange vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Sheldon | Orange | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
7,573Highest |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Orange and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,063±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,966 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Orange 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.