Compare towns
Orange vs Dover 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 affordable homes ($246k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
2,308Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Dover 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% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
— | $1,043±$109Highest 41% below MA |
| Ware and Orange 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Ware 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | #1 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 |
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.