Compare towns
Orange vs Springfield 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
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Springfield | Ware | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,122Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3 22% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Adams 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Ware 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% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Adams 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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 26% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% 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% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #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.