Compare towns
Wendell vs Whately 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%).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Whately | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 850Lowest |
1,499 |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
49.3±6.7Highest 23% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Whately 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% |
24.5%±6.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Whately and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Whately 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 |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,300±$31k 48% below MA |
$431,500±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$977±$125 45% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Wendell and Whately 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 |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.8%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | Whately | 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.