Compare towns
Berkley vs Dudley vs Ware vs Halifax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkley has the highest household income ($144k).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (13.9%).
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 | Berkley | Dudley | Ware | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,829Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
7,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
| Berkley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,205±$49kHighest 39% above MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,200±$45kHighest 9% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
| Berkley and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,018 about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax and Berkley 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 | #155 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berkley | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Halifax |
| High school in town | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.