Compare towns
Ware vs Epping vs Orange vs New Salem
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
7,430 |
7,573 |
1,054Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% 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. |
55.6±2.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Ware 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% |
23.7%±6.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Salem 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% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 16% below U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$79,688±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Epping and New Salem 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$359,000±$40k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,194±$88 15% below U.S. |
| Epping and New Salem 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. |
$4,509 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
86.7%±25.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Salem and Epping 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% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest 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. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below 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% |
19.4%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and New Salem 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Epping School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Epping High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.3 |
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.