Compare towns

Warren vs Dighton 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).
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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.

MeasureWarrenDightonWareOrange
People
Population
5,009Lowest
8,193Highest
6,369
7,573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
MA: +7.4%
+14.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±7.3Lowest
3% below MA
42.7±2.9Highest
7% above MA
39.8±6
about the MA average
41.8±2.2
4% above MA
Dighton and Orange 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%
21%±4
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.2%±3.8
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%
17.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9
MA: 17.9%
20.3%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Orange and Dighton 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%
35.9%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%
4.2%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9
MA: 7.9%
2%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dighton 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
$136,646±$19kHighest
31% above MA
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$55,824±$10k
46% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$333,700±$35k
41% below MA
$501,900±$47kHighest
11% below MA
$253,400±$31k
55% below MA
$245,900±$18kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$890±$174
49% below MA
$1,405±$192Highest
20% below MA
$1,039±$104
41% below MA
$775±$233Lowest
56% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,530
24% below MA
$6,452Highest
8% above MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$4,136
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.7%±18.4
MA: 51.8%
11.8%±16.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
41%±11.9
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%
MA: 10%
22.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
90.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
70%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1975Highest
11 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
31 min
6% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
11%±3.9
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5Highest
MA: 18.6%
6.6%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Dighton 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 #85 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA #275 of 282 in MA
School district Quaboag Regional Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth — Orange · Ralph C Mahar
High school in town Quaboag Regional High Bristol County Agricultural High — Ralph C Mahar Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.0
11.9Highest
—
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.