Compare towns
Ware vs Acton vs Athol 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
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Athol has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Acton | Athol | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,721Lowest |
12,011Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,316±$5k 14% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Acton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$268,100±$13k 19% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Acton Public Schools | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 11.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.