Compare towns
Guildhall vs Orange vs Ware vs Westfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Guildhall | Orange | Ware | Westfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 371Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
536 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
44±19.9Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±7.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±11.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$72,500±$30k 10% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $321,200±$62kHighest 3% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$301,400±$47k 9% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$717 40% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$863±$187 39% below U.S. |
| Ware and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,388 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±71.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westfield 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 | — |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | — |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| 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.