Compare towns
Orange vs Thompson vs Ware
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 affordable homes ($246k median).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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 | Thompson | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573 |
9,337Highest |
6,369Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 31% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
| Thompson and Ware 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
| Ware and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Thompson School District | — |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
7.9Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.