Compare towns
Ware vs Temple 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%).
Temple has the highest household income ($94k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Temple | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,369 |
1,363Lowest |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Temple 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest 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% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Temple 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% |
36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 44% below U.S. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Highest 17% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Temple and Ware 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. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 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 |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley 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.