Compare towns
Orange vs Ware vs Groton vs Orwell
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 ($222k median).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Ware | Groton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
10,048Highest |
967 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.7±5.8 17% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orwell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$77,250±$14kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,417±$22k 13% below U.S. |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$243,000±$70k 27% below U.S. |
$335,600±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Orwell and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$288±$151Lowest 80% below U.S. |
$1,105±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,659 17% above U.S. |
$3,914 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.5%±72.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Ware | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.