Compare towns
Ware vs Windsor vs Orange vs 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Windsor has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
Adams has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Orange | Adams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,369 |
3,554Lowest |
7,573 |
8,074Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
47.3±3.3Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Adams and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Adams 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% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Adams and Ware 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. |
$52,484±$11k 35% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
$58,929±$6kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Adams and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $253,400±$31kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$209,900±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Ware and Orange 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. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$963±$74 32% below U.S. |
| Ware and Windsor 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$3,638 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and 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% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 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 |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #275 of 282 in MA | #230 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hoosac Valley Regional |
| High school in town | — | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.