Compare towns
Dudley vs Hadley 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
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Hadley | Ware | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
5,306Lowest |
10,048 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Hadley and Blackstone 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% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 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%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Hadley and Blackstone 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 |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Blackstone 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hadley | Ware | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Hopkins Academy | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.3Lowest |
11.1 |
13.6 |
| 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.