Compare towns
Orange vs Epping vs Dudley vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Epping | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
7,430Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 33% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Epping School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Epping High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.3 |
14.3Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.