Compare towns
Bennington vs Dudley vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Bennington | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.