Compare towns
Dudley vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Lancaster | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,216Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Dudley 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| Webster and Dudley 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. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | White Mountains Regional School District | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.