Compare towns
Orange vs Windsor vs Ware 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 most kids (22.2% under 18).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Adams has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Windsor | Ware | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,573 |
3,554Lowest |
10,048Highest |
8,074 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Adams 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% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 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±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6k 27% below U.S. |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| 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 45% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Ware and Windsor 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,638Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #267 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.