Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Westhampton
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).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Westhampton has the highest household income ($100k).
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 | Ware | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573Highest |
6,369 |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±4.1Lowest 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$100,000±$7kHighest 4% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$413,200±$24kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,304±$229Highest 26% below MA |
| Westhampton 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 |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,476Highest 8% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Westhampton 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 | — |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
| 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.