Compare towns
Warwick vs Orwell vs Heath vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warwick has the most expensive homes ($349k median).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Orwell | Heath | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 776 |
1,294 |
765Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±7.3 32% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orwell 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 16% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Warwick and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,367±$163Highest 3% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
— | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,380 40% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±57.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Warwick | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.