Compare towns
Dudley vs Guildhall vs Oxford 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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Guildhall has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Guildhall | Oxford | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
371Lowest |
13,385Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
42±2.8 8% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Guildhall 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% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Oxford 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% |
26.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Guildhall 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10k 29% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Guildhall and Oxford 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. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$374,900±$18k 13% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below 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±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Oxford 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. |
$4,625Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Oxford 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 | — | #245 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Oxford | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Oxford High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.