Compare towns
Winchendon vs Jaffrey 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
Winchendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Jaffrey has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Winchendon | Jaffrey | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440Highest |
5,448Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$962±$202 32% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon and Jaffrey 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 | #269 of 282 in MA | #87 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
21.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.