Compare towns
Starks vs Orange vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starks has the youngest population (median age 46.7).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
Bridgewater has the shortest commute (22 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 | Starks | Orange | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556 |
957Highest |
484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
48.8±8 25% above U.S. |
| Orange and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bridgewater and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bridgewater and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$65,417±$15k 19% below U.S. |
| Orange and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22kHighest 33% below U.S. |
$154,900±$78k 53% below U.S. |
| Orange and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$768±$116Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Orange and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$3,545Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,417 55% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±59.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Bridgewater 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 | — |
| High school 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.