Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Wolfeboro vs Athol
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).
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
6,369Lowest |
6,571 |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 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% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Athol 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. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Athol and Wolfeboro 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. |
$3,408 9% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Athol 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% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | Kingswood Regional High School | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
11.6Highest |
| 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.