Compare towns
Ware vs Windsor Locks vs Orange vs North Adams
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 kids (23.3% under 18).
Windsor Locks has the highest household income ($81k).
North Adams has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Windsor Locks | Orange | North Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369Lowest |
12,579 |
7,573 |
12,606Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
44.1±3.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| North Adams 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% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| North Adams 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% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$47,500±$7k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kHighest 22% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$195,900±$14kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$793±$113 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,408 9% above U.S. |
$3,688 18% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,078Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±11 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and North Adams 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% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
51%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #275 of 282 in MA | #268 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Windsor Locks School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | — | Windsor Locks High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Charles McCann Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
9.0 |
10.6Highest |
| 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.