Compare towns
Orange vs Barre vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Orange | Barre | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
5,572Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest 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+ | 20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$394,300±$55kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,030±$713 42% below MA |
$1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin | Ware |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Quabbin Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.