Compare towns
Halifax vs Orange vs Ware vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Halifax | Orange | Ware | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Southampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
| Southampton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Halifax and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Southampton |
| 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.