Compare towns
Orange vs Ryegate vs Ware vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Ryegate | Ware | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,059Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams and Ryegate 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% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Adams 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±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$66,484±$15k 18% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Ware and Ryegate 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. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Ware and Orange 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. |
$908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Ware and Adams 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. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1949 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Adams 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | 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 |
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.