Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY 4.0Orange spent less per resident in 2022 than 84% of similar towns
Orange’s town government spent $21.7 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $2,862 per resident. Water and other utilities ($526,000) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Orange is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$2,862 per resident in 2022: less than 84% of them
Orange’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,862 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,188, and the middle half spent $3,428–$5,633. Orange spent less than 84% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($781,000), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Orange itself left out).
About $2,862 per resident a year, or $7.84 a day
Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 46% of day-to-day spending.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Orange runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
No trend yet
Orange reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.
The typical homeowner pays $4,136 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.68% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Orange’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Orange’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Orange →
Who’s in charge in Orange
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Orange’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on townoforange.org ↗.
One full-time town employee for every 43 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (7,581).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Orange School District
Orange’s elementary school district. The schools are run by Orange, so this money is part of the budget above.
Of the $23,509 per pupil, $13,958 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.
Ralph C. Mahar School District · $30,875 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Orange voted in 2024
Official results for Orange’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican49.6%1,942 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat48.0%1,879 votesOthers: 2.4% (92 votes).
Most votes in Orange: Donald J Trump
Franklin County: Harris 67.0%, Trump 29.4% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%
of Orange’s 5,751 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Orange: John Deaton
Franklin County: Warren 66.9%, Deaton 32.9% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%
Most votes in the district: James P Mc Govern
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Orange, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 49.6% | 48.0% | 2.4% | 3,913 |
| Franklin County | 29.4% | 67.0% | 3.6% | 42,248 |
| Massachusetts | 36.0% | 61.2% | 2.8% | 3,473,668 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Orange.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: townoforange.org ↗
- 2Massachusetts HouseState representatives
- 3Massachusetts SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Orange compares with the towns next door
Orange spent $2,862 per resident in 2022; the 5 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,522 to $6,116. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Orange’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Orange’s government
How much does Orange spend per resident?
About $2,862 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,862 was less than 84% of 50 Massachusetts towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Orange?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $4,136 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.68% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townoforange.org.
Who runs Orange’s government?
See townoforange.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Orange yet.
How did Orange vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 49.6%, Kamala D Harris 48.0% (3,913 votes, official results). Franklin County: Harris 67.0%, Trump 29.4%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.
How many people work for Orange?
176 full-time and 38 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $880,807 (about $10.6M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Orange in the state legislature?
State Senate District Hampshire-Franklin-Worcester (Jo Comerford) and State House District 2nd Franklin (Susannah Whipps). The House district also covers nine other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Orange’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →