Compare towns
Chester vs Orange vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the highest household income ($89k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Chester | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,240Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Chester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14k 50% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71Highest 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Chester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Chester 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gateway | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.