Compare towns
Dudley vs Gray vs Ware vs Oxford
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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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.
| Measure | Dudley | Gray | Ware | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
8,429Lowest |
10,048 |
13,385Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Gray 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% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$103,862±$10kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,371±$89Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
| Gray and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,622Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Oxford 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Oxford and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #267 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ware | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.5 |
11.1 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.