The Town FilesOrange, Massachusetts
Town in Franklin County · population 7,569 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,900
- Household income
- $55,824
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.8
Orange is a town of 7,569 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $245,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
How Orange ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Orange is worth $245,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $55,824, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Orange | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $775 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $55,824 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Orange
| People | Orange | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.4% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Orange
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.2 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orange since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 11, 2006 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 25,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,261 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Orange itself the ACS puts it at 8.6%.
Public schools in Orange
2 public schools with 1,027 students, about 10.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisher Hill School | PK-6 | 523 | 12.5 |
| Ralph C Mahar Regional | 7-12 | 504 | 8.5 |
Towns near Orange
- Orange, MA0.0 mi · 3,636 people · home $231,400
- Athol, MA3.3 mi · 8,486 people · home $248,700
- Athol, MA3.8 mi · 11,945 people · home $268,100
- Northfield, MA9.6 mi · 2,866 people · home $375,800
- Templeton, MA11.4 mi · 8,149 people · home $358,500
- Montague, MA11.9 mi · 8,580 people · home $282,100
- Winchendon, MA12.8 mi · 10,364 people · home $323,800
- Turners Falls, MA13.5 mi · 4,512 people · home $246,700
Orange questions
Is Orange, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Orange scores better for retirees than 21% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 58%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Orange?
The median owner-occupied home in Orange is valued at $245,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,824, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Orange?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 52.2 inches of snow.
Does Orange get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Orange since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 11, 2006. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)