Compare towns

Warwick vs Athol vs Orange

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warwick has the most people working from home (22.4%).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
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.

MeasureWarwickAtholOrange
People
Population
776Lowest
8,801Highest
7,573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
MA: +7.4%
+2.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±7.3Highest
29% above MA
36.8±3.3Lowest
8% below MA
41.8±2.2
4% above MA
Kids under 18
9.9%±3.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±3.8
MA: 19.4%
Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15%±2.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.3%±3.1
MA: 17.9%
Warwick and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
21.9%
MA: 47.3%
15.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
2%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Athol and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,333±$22kHighest
10% below MA
$67,394±$8k
35% below MA
$55,824±$10kLowest
46% below MA
Warwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$349,400±$34kHighest
38% below MA
$248,700±$15k
56% below MA
$245,900±$18kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,367±$163Highest
22% below MA
$1,120±$173
36% below MA
$775±$233Lowest
56% below MA
Warwick and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,380Highest
27% below MA
$3,170Lowest
47% below MA
$4,136
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.3%±57.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59.2%±17.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
41%±11.9
MA: 51.8%
Athol and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
21%
MA: 10%
22.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
63.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
70%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1940Lowest
24 yrs older than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
40 minHighest
37% above MA
26 minLowest
10% below MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
22.4%±6.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.7%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
6.6%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #256 of 282 in MA #275 of 282 in MA
School district Warwick — 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 Our Story 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.