Compare towns
Warwick vs Dalton vs Heath 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 expensive homes ($349k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Warwick | Dalton | Heath | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 776 |
6,256 |
765Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Heath and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Heath 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±$22k 10% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Heath and Warwick 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 |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Warwick and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
$872±$70 51% below MA |
— | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,380 27% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 37% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Warwick 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Warwick | Central Berkshire | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.