Compare towns
Orange vs Harvard vs Ware vs Dudley
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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Harvard | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
6,927Lowest |
10,048 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 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% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,321±$424Highest 25% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Harvard and Dudley 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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 MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #275 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Harvard | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | The Bromfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.0 |
11.1 |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.