Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Springfield vs Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Springfield | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573Lowest |
10,048 |
154,749Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15kHighest 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$245,000±$4k 56% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$963±$74 45% below MA |
| 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 31% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Springfield 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Springfield | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.