What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Webster	Orange
People
Population	2,227Lowest	7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S.	41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22%	22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	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+	30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S.	$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average	$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average	$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S.
	Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 93% above U.S.	$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Webster and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#275 of 282 in MA
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	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

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.