Compare towns
Warren vs Belvidere vs Ware 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
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 41.8).
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 | Belvidere | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
422Lowest |
6,369 |
7,573Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±6.5 5% above U.S. |
39.8±6 about the U.S. average |
41.8±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Orange and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ware and Warren 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 18% below U.S. |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10k 31% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest about the U.S. average |
$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$253,400±$31k 24% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 37% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,039±$104 26% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Belvidere 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | — | — | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | — | 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 |
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.