Compare towns
Dudley vs Hampton vs Webster 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).
Hampton has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Hampton | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,647Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
51.5±5.3Highest 32% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
29.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$109,167±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$295,800±$27k 11% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,285±$288Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81 13% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Webster 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. |
$4,364Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±51.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hampton 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Hampton School District | Webster | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.6 |
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.