Compare towns
Barre vs Blackstone 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
Barre has the highest household income ($108k).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Barre | Blackstone | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
9,255 |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Barre and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Blackstone and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163 14% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Blackstone-Millville | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Blackstone Millville RHS | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9 |
13.6 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.