Compare towns
Deerfield 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
Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).
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 | Deerfield | Dudley | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
11,929Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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 | 7.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
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.