Compare towns
Dudley vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Woonsocket
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).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% 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 | Hardwick | Ware | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Dudley 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Woonsocket 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. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%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. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | Ware | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.