Compare towns
Starks vs Orange vs Union
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 most affordable homes ($149k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 556Lowest |
957 |
2,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.7±9.4 20% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange and Starks 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Starks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest 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% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Union and Orange 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±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$301Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Orange and Union 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. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±90.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Starks and Union 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% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school 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.