Compare towns
Ware vs Barrington vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most renters (42.6% rent).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Ware | Barrington | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
9,489Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
38.7±2.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barrington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barrington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$110,323±$14kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$399,100±$30kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,867±$194Highest 32% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$7,121Highest 128% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.1%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barrington 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #65 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Barrington School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.