Compare towns

Summit vs Orange vs Worcester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Summit has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.9%).

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.

MeasureSummitOrangeWorcester
People
Population
976Lowest
1,196
2,149Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.6%
NY: +4.2%
-12.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.9%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
55.7±7.3Highest
40% above NY
46.6±6.3
17% above NY
43.2±6.9Lowest
9% above NY
Summit and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±4.5Lowest
NY: 20.5%
18%±4
NY: 20.5%
20.3%±3.3Highest
NY: 20.5%
Worcester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
37.7%±8.7Highest
NY: 17.9%
22.9%±4.1
NY: 17.9%
17.4%±2.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.7%Highest
NY: 40.2%
16.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
26.9%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±2Lowest
NY: 7%
0%±1.7Lowest
NY: 7%
6.5%±5.5Highest
NY: 7%
Worcester and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$74,375±$26kHighest
13% below NY
$60,000±$9kLowest
30% below NY
$69,886±$23k
19% below NY
Summit and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$150,000±$29k
65% below NY
$119,200±$17kLowest
72% below NY
$155,300±$43kHighest
63% below NY
Worcester and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$932±$81Highest
43% below NY
$736±$327Lowest
55% below NY
Orange and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,230Lowest
66% below NY
$2,667Highest
59% below NY
$2,602
60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NY: 52.1%
66.1%±42.6
NY: 52.1%
91.8%±41.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
Worcester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.7%
NY: 14%
21.7%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.7%Highest
NY: 54.3%
84.9%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
90.7%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
22 yrs newer than NY
1979
20 yrs newer than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
3% above NY
30 min
8% below NY
26 minLowest
19% below NY
Work from home
5.3%±4.2Lowest
NY: 14.9%
8.1%±4.3
NY: 14.9%
8.4%±4.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Worcester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

NY 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.