Compare towns
Warren vs Ashburnham vs Ware vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Ware has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Warren | Ashburnham | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
6,415 |
6,369 |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| Orange and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Ashburnham 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Ashburnham-Westminster | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | — | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
— | — | 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.