Compare towns
Erving vs Ware vs Orange vs Chester
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Chester has the highest household income ($89k).
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 | Ware | Orange | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703 |
10,048Highest |
7,573 |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Chester 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest 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+ | 22.6%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,656±$9k 25% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester and Erving 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 |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$281,900±$14k 50% 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 | $1,163±$213Highest 34% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Erving and Chester 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 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 | 5.2% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Gateway |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.