Compare towns
Warren vs Halifax 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).
Halifax has the highest household income ($119k).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Halifax | Ware | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
7,748 |
10,048Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Ware and Halifax 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% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 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% |
36.1%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% |
5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax 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 |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above 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% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Halifax | 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.