Compare towns
Dudley vs Middlesex vs Ware vs Webster
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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,943Lowest |
10,048 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% 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. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% 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 | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 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% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.