Compare towns
Dudley vs Douglas vs Upton 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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
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 | Douglas | Upton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
9,207 |
8,189Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Douglas and Dudley 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 |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Douglas | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Douglas High School | Blackstone Valley | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.2 |
11.1 |
| 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.