Compare towns
Ware vs Orange vs Webster
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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Orange | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
7,573Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Webster 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Webster 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Webster |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
11.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.