Compare towns
Dudley vs Middlesex vs Orange 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
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 | Middlesex | Orange | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
1,943Lowest |
7,573 |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Middlesex 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. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.