Compare towns
Orange vs Wilbraham vs Ware
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).
Wilbraham has the highest household income ($122k).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Wilbraham | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,573Lowest |
14,572Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Wilbraham 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% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham 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% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Wilbraham 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 |
$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$416,000±$25kHighest 26% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,175±$241Highest 33% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Wilbraham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Wilbraham 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% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Wilbraham 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 | #88 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hampden-Wilbraham | Ware |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Minnechaug Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
14.2Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.