Compare towns
Douglas 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
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Douglas | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,207 |
7,573Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Douglas and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 16% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas and Ware 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Douglas | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Douglas High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.2Lowest |
9.0 |
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.