Compare towns
Dudley vs Middlefield vs Ware vs Blackstone
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).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Middlefield | Ware | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
4,243Lowest |
10,048 |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
51.6±1.9Highest 33% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
43.2±1.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Blackstone 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% |
25.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlefield 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% |
41.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$99,837±$20kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,191±$21k 17% above U.S. |
| Middlefield and Blackstone 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. |
$376,000±$27k 13% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$3,501Highest 148% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,189±$85 16% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,853Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,703 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±52.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Middlefield and Blackstone 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Blackstone 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 | #65 of 149 in CT | #267 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Regional School District 13 | Ware | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
13.6 |
| 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.