Compare towns
Acton vs Dudley vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Acton | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
11,929 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #13 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.