Compare towns
Dudley vs Lyman vs Ware
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Lyman | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
4,612Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
53.8±2Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Ware 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% |
26.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman 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% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,284±$14kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Dudley 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. |
$360,400±$44k 8% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Lyman 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. |
$1,063±$522 25% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$2,717Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±44.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyman 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 | #40 of 133 in ME | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | RSU 57/MSAD 57 | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.