Compare towns
Warwick vs Needham 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 homeowners (89%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Heath has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Needham | Heath | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 776 |
32,459Highest |
765Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Orange 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Warwick 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Heath 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,367±$163 22% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,380 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,438 26% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer 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 |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Heath 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 | — | #19 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 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.