Compare towns
Dudley vs Dunbarton vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dunbarton | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
3,097Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Dunbarton School District | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.