Compare towns
Ashfield 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
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Ashfield | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,893Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Ashfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±34 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 24%±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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mohawk Trail | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.