Compare towns
Gill vs Orange vs Ware vs Brimfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Brimfield has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Gill | Orange | Ware | Brimfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,740Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
3,705 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.7±5.3 9% above MA |
| Gill and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±8.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±6 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Brimfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Brimfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
44.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,208±$14k 13% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$111,250±$22kHighest 7% above MA |
| Brimfield and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$389,100±$27kHighest 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$246Highest 32% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$886±$365 50% below MA |
| Gill and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,318 28% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,128Highest 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±10.4 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±25.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 29% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.9%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Gill and Brimfield 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 | #108 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gill-Montague | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Brimfield |
| 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 |
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.