Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson vs Orange vs Warren
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 the most people working from home (16.6%).
Thompson has the highest household income ($94k).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Thompson | Orange | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
9,337Highest |
7,573 |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Thompson 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. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Warren and Thompson 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. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
| Ware and Thompson 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.0 |
10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.