Compare towns
Orange vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Adams has the shortest commute (24 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 | Hardwick | Ware | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
| Adams and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Adams 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 |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Hardwick 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 |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119Highest 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$963±$74 45% below MA |
| Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 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% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 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 |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.