Compare towns
Dudley vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dudley | Dalton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
6,256Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Dalton 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dudley and Dalton 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 |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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 | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Central Berkshire | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.