Compare towns
Ware vs Hamilton 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
Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k median).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Hamilton | Athol | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
7,600 |
12,011Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Hamilton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Orange 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% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton 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% |
68.8%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% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Hamilton-Wenham | Athol-Royalston | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Athol High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.8Highest |
11.6 |
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.