Compare towns
Ware vs Epping vs Orange vs Hardwick
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Epping | Orange | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
7,430 |
7,573 |
2,684Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Hardwick 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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% |
37%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Epping and Hardwick 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Epping and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Epping School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Epping High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3 |
9.0Lowest |
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| 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.