Compare towns
Winchendon vs Mapleton 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440Highest |
1,884Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Winchendon 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Mapleton 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 |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780 21% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Orange 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon and Mapleton 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.