Compare towns
Ware vs Springfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
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 | Springfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
154,749Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
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%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$55,824±$10kHighest 46% below MA |
| Orange and Springfield 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 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±$104 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Springfield and Ware 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 |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,136Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
22.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Springfield | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.