Compare towns

Warren vs West Brookfield 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).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.

MeasureWarrenWest BrookfieldOrange
People
Population
5,009
3,859Lowest
7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
MA: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
58.5±3.2Highest
46% above MA
41.8±2.2
4% above MA
Kids under 18
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
13%±3.8Lowest
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%
35.9%±6.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.3%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
34%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
1.2%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
2%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
Warren and Orange 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
$95,613±$12kHighest
8% below MA
$55,824±$10kLowest
46% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$354,000±$21kHighest
37% below MA
$245,900±$18kLowest
56% below MA
West Brookfield and Warren 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
$1,236±$271Highest
30% below MA
$775±$233Lowest
56% below MA
West Brookfield 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
$4,260
29% below MA
$4,136Lowest
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
30.3%±18.8
MA: 51.8%
41%±11.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Orange and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
MA: 10%
8.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
22.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70%
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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
42 minHighest
44% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
18.9%±15Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.6%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
West Brookfield 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 #162 of 282 in MA #275 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Quaboag Regional Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town Quaboag Regional High None in town 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.