Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Webster vs Adams
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 youngest population (median age 41.8).
Webster has the highest household income ($107k).
Adams has the shortest commute (24 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 | Ware | Webster | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
10,048Highest |
2,227Lowest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Adams 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±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$209,900±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Webster and Ware 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. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster 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 | — | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | Merrimack Valley School District | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.