Compare towns
Dummerston vs Orange vs Ware vs Monkton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dummerston | Orange | Ware | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
1,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.1±5.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$119,688±$28kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$379,900±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,301±$120 8% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,887Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±64 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Monkton and Dummerston 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.