Compare towns
Dudley vs Adams vs Webster vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Adams has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Dudley | Adams | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
8,074Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
47.3±3.3Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.2%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Adams and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$58,929±$6kLowest 43% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$209,900±$15kLowest 63% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$963±$74Lowest 45% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,638Lowest 39% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
62.1%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Adams are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.2%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #230 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hoosac Valley Regional | Webster | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
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.