Compare towns
Ware vs Thompson vs Orange vs West Brookfield
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 renters (42.6% rent).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
West Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
9,337Highest |
7,573 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±2.2 39% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
58.5±3.2Highest 50% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Thompson 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% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
13%±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% |
24.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%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%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$95,613±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| West Brookfield and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$354,000±$21kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,236±$271Highest 13% below U.S. |
| West Brookfield 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. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,260Highest 37% 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% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest 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% |
8.5% 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% |
80.8% 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. |
1967Highest 13 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. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±15Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Brookfield 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA | #162 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 | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
9.0Highest |
— |
| 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.