Compare towns

Dudley vs Fall River vs Ware vs Blackstone

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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.

MeasureDudleyFall RiverWareBlackstone
People
Population
11,929
94,082Highest
10,048
9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.2±2.4
about the MA average
39.3±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
43.2±1.7Highest
8% above MA
Blackstone and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Blackstone and Dudley 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%
16.1%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Blackstone 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%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24%
MA: 47.3%
31.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
1.6%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,604±$12k
19% below MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$67,475±$15k
35% below MA
$94,191±$21kHighest
9% below MA
Blackstone and Dudley 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
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$404,400±$34kHighest
28% below MA
Blackstone and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,217±$182Highest
31% below MA
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,189±$85
33% below MA
Dudley and Blackstone 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
$3,953
34% below MA
$4,237
29% below MA
$5,703Highest
5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±4.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2
MA: 51.8%
65%±18.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Blackstone and Ware 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%
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
11.8%
MA: 10%
8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
73.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
6% below MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
34 minHighest
16% above MA
Work from home
9.1%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
17.4%±4.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
Blackstone 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 #262 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA #207 of 282 in MA
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Ware Blackstone-Millville
High school in town Shepherd Hill Regional High B M C Durfee High Ware Junior/Senior High School Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
11.3
11.1Lowest
13.6
On TownTapestry
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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.