Compare towns
Dudley vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Dudley 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Webster 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% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | — | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | — | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | — | 11.6Lowest |
| 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.