Compare towns
Becket 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
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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 | Becket | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,962Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Becket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±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+ | 21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Becket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Dudley and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Becket and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | 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.