Compare towns
Orange vs Lancaster vs Ware vs Dudley
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 kids (22.2% under 18).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
3,216Lowest |
10,048 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Ware 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
16.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | White Mountains Regional School District | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.