Compare towns
Dudley vs Halifax vs Ware vs Webster
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 highest household income ($85k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Halifax | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
847Lowest |
10,048 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ware and Halifax 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Webster 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7k 21% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Ware 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. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster 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. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Halifax 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 | 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.