Compare towns
Lee 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
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Lee | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Lee and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 19 photos → | 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.