Compare towns
Strafford vs Orange vs Tunbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Strafford | Orange | Tunbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
7,573Highest |
1,253Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.7±8.3 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$89,464±$26k 11% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$315,300±$23k 5% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,346±$128Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,645 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Tunbridge and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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.