Compare towns
Warren vs Dudley vs Orange vs Hardwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Warren | Dudley | Orange | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
11,929Highest |
7,573 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.