Compare towns
Orange vs Hampton vs Athol 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).
Hampton has the highest household income ($109k).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 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 | Hampton | Athol | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,647Lowest |
12,011Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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 31% below U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$295,800±$27kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Ware 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. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182 19% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Athol 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. |
$4,364Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampton School District | Athol-Royalston | Ware |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Athol High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.6Highest |
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.