Compare towns
Orange vs Gardner vs Ware vs Athol
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).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Athol has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Gardner | Ware | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Lowest |
21,148Highest |
10,048 |
8,801 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Orange 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Lowest 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% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
| Gardner 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±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
| Gardner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,120±$173Highest 36% below MA |
| Athol and Gardner 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
21% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Gardner | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Gardner High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.1 |
— |
| 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.