Compare towns
Erving vs Orange vs Ware vs Montague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Montague has the shortest commute (21 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 | Erving | Orange | Ware | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
8,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±3.1Highest 11% above MA |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9kHighest 25% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$70,510±$12k 32% below MA |
| Erving and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$282,100±$17k 50% below MA |
| Ware and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,207±$115Highest 31% below MA |
| Montague and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,922 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Montague and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
11.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Montague 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Erving | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.