Compare towns
Dudley vs Jackson vs Ware vs Whitman
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 youngest population (median age 40.2).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% 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 | Jackson | Ware | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
897Lowest |
10,048 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14k 35% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Jackson 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. |
$6,001Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Whitman 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jackson 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Jackson School District | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| 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.