Compare towns
Orange vs Washington vs Ware vs Dudley
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).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Washington | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
1,208Lowest |
10,048 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley 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% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Washington and Dudley 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. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Washington 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. |
$1,106±$160 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Washington 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. |
$4,321Highest 39% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington 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 | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Washington School District | Ware | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
14.3Highest |
| 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.