Compare towns
Warren vs Ayer vs Orange vs Ware
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 most renters (35.5% rent).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Ayer | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
8,645 |
7,573 |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest 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+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Ware 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Ayer Shirley School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.