Compare towns
Ware vs Hampton vs Dudley 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
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Hampton has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hampton | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
10,101 |
11,929Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$97,163±$4kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Dudley 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. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,872Highest 120% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hampton 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 14.3Highest |
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.