Compare towns
Gardner 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
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Gardner | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
7,573 |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Gardner and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Gardner and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.