Compare towns
Orange vs Dudley vs Ware vs Adams
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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Dudley | Ware | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
| Adams 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Ware 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$963±$74 45% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 31% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.