Compare towns
Ware vs Adams vs Athol vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Adams | Athol | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
8,074 |
12,011Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 | $67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$58,929±$6k 43% below MA |
$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Athol and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kHighest 48% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18k 56% below MA |
| Ware and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$963±$74 45% below MA |
$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| 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 29% below MA |
$3,638 39% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.2% MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Athol 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hoosac Valley Regional | 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 |
MA 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.