Compare towns
Orange vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Ware has the shortest commute (27 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 | Sturbridge | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
9,960Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Sturbridge 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.