What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).

Orange has the highest household income ($56k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ware	Orange
People
Population	6,369Lowest	7,573Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±6Lowest about the MA average	41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA
	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%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%	22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	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 MA: 47.3%	15.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ware and Orange 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 57% below MA	$55,824±$10kHighest 46% below MA
	Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$253,400±$31kHighest 55% below MA	$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA
	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 41% below MA	$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA
	Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,408Lowest 43% below MA	$4,136Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8%	41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	22.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#267 of 282 in MA	#275 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town	—	Ralph C Mahar Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.