Compare towns
Orange vs Pepperell vs Ware
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).
Pepperell has the highest household income ($124k).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Pepperell | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
11,663Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Pepperell and Orange 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% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Pepperell 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±$10k 46% below MA |
$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$482,100±$14kHighest 14% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,295±$238Highest 27% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Pepperell 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 |
$6,698Highest 12% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Pepperell 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% |
8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.1%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.