Compare towns
Walden vs Orange vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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 | Walden | Orange | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
7,573Highest |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.3±6.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Cabot and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cabot and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,031±$16k 5% below U.S. |
| Walden and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$268,500±$77kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,243±$354Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Cabot and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,639Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±26.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| 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.