Compare towns
Ware vs Whitingham vs Warren 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%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
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 | Whitingham | Warren | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
1,368Lowest |
5,009 |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±8 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%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Warren 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. |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$66,082±$6k 18% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Whitingham and Warren 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. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
$333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104Highest 26% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$890±$174 37% below U.S. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
| Ware and Warren 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. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,530 45% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Whitingham 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 | — | #165 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Quaboag Regional | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | Quaboag Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
10.0Highest |
9.0 |
| 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.