Compare towns
Warren vs Bernardston 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 most renters (35.5% rent).
Bernardston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
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 | Bernardston | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
2,164Lowest |
10,048Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-1.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
49±3.2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Bernardston and Ware 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest 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%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bernardston 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Bernardston 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 |
$81,940±$10kHighest 21% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Bernardston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
$332,000±$15k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Warren and Bernardston 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 |
$1,283±$553Highest 27% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Bernardston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,516 25% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,136Lowest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.7%±6.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bernardston 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Pioneer Valley | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | 11.1Highest |
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.