Compare towns
Millis 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
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Millis | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,888 |
7,573Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3Highest 16% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Millis and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.