Compare towns
Warren vs Plainfield vs Orange
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 expensive homes ($334k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Plainfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009 |
616Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Plainfield 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% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6kHighest 36% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Warren and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Warren and Plainfield 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 |
$1,292±$558Highest 27% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Plainfield and Warren 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Orange and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.