Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Wendell vs Athol
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).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 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 | Wendell | Athol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
10,048 |
850Lowest |
12,011Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
| Wendell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Athol 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% |
22.7%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Wendell 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% |
51.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell 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 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$65,288±$14k 37% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$290,300±$31kHighest 48% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
| Wendell and Ware 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 |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
| Wendell and Athol 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,519Highest 25% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3% MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wendell 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 | — | #256 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware | New Salem-Wendell | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
— | 11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.