Compare towns
Dudley vs Middlefield vs Ware
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%).
Middlefield has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
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 | Middlefield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
352Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$103,750±$23kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Middlefield 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 30% below MA |
$332,800±$48k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Dudley and Middlefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Middlefield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,926Highest 18% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Ware 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% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Middlefield 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 |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | 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 |
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.