Compare towns

Webster vs Orange vs Webster

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Webster has the highest household income ($73k).

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.

MeasureWebsterOrangeWebster
People
Population
12,228
7,573Lowest
17,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±2.1Lowest
7% below MA
41.8±2.2Highest
4% above MA
39.9±2.9
about the MA average
Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±2.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.3%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.6%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
18.8%
MA: 47.3%
15.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
25.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±1.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
2%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.8%±1.6
MA: 7.9%
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,837±$8k
39% below MA
$55,824±$10kLowest
46% below MA
$72,895±$6kHighest
30% below MA
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,100±$14k
41% below MA
$245,900±$18kLowest
56% below MA
$361,500±$12kHighest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$85
32% below MA
$775±$233Lowest
56% below MA
$1,228±$81Highest
30% below MA
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,234Lowest
46% below MA
$4,136Highest
31% below MA
$3,999
33% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
41%±11.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±6.7
MA: 51.8%
Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16%
MA: 10%
22.4%Highest
MA: 10%
12.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
45.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
70%Highest
MA: 62.5%
59.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1954Lowest
10 yrs older than MA
1966Highest
2 yrs newer than MA
1962
2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
5% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
31 min
5% above MA
Work from home
7.1%±2.9
MA: 18.6%
6.6%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Webster and Webster 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 #271 of 282 in MA #275 of 282 in MA #271 of 282 in MA
School district — Orange · Ralph C Mahar Webster
High school in town — Ralph C Mahar Regional Bartlett High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0Lowest
11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.