Compare towns
Ware vs Chester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Chester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
2,992Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Orange 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% |
33.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chester 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. |
$62,125±$8kHighest 23% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Chester and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% 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 | $1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
$960±$44 32% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Ware and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,262Highest 37% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Orange 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| 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.