Compare towns
Warren vs Berlin 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the shortest commute (27 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 | Berlin | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
3,378Lowest |
7,573Highest |
6,369 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$55,824±$10k 46% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Berlin-Boylston | 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.