Compare towns
Dudley vs Ludlow vs Ware vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Ludlow | Ware | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
20,904Highest |
10,048Lowest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Ludlow 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow 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% MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ludlow 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 | #154 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ludlow | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ludlow Senior High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
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| 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.