Compare towns
Washington vs Oakham 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
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Washington | Oakham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
1,639Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
49±2.3Lowest 26% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Oakham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Quabbin | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.