Compare towns
Ware vs Upton vs Orange vs Petersham
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
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 | Upton | Orange | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Highest |
8,189 |
7,573 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
41.8±2.2Lowest 4% above MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Petersham 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$110,750±$20k 7% above MA |
| Upton and Petersham 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 |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$948±$599 46% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
35 min 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Petersham 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Ware | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Petersham |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Blackstone Valley | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.2Highest |
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.