Compare towns
Wendell vs Leverett vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Leverett has the most people working from home (28.5%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Wendell | Leverett | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
1,608 |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
56±6.4Highest 40% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Leverett and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$435,500±$35kHighest 23% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519 30% below MA |
$1,389±$135Highest 21% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Leverett and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,519 25% below MA |
$6,779Highest 13% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Leverett and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3% MA: 10% |
10%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Leverett and Wendell 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 | New Salem-Wendell | Leverett | 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 |
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.