Compare towns
Ware vs Orange vs North Adams
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Orange | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
7,573 |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
| North Adams and Orange 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%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest 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%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| North Adams 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 MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
28.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$55,824±$10kHighest 46% below MA |
$47,500±$7k 54% below MA |
| Orange and North Adams 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±$18k 56% below MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% 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 |
$793±$113 55% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 43% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Adams 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% |
18.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
51%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and North Adams 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.