Compare towns
Warren vs Townsend 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 renters (35.5% rent).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
9,100Highest |
7,573 |
| 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 |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| Orange and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$6k 36% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Townsend and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Townsend and Warren 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | North Middlesex | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | North Middlesex Regional | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
13.1Highest |
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.