Compare towns
Clinton vs Dudley vs Ware vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clinton has the most renters (45.3% rent).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Boylston has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Clinton | Dudley | Ware | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,563Highest |
11,929 |
10,048 |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA |
| Boylston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 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+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Boylston and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$76 20% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,654 22% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$7,266Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 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 | 8.6% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
79.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boylston and Clinton 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 | #246 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Clinton | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Clinton Senior High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
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.