Compare towns

Dudley vs Millbury vs Ware vs Whitman

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%).
Millbury has the most people working from home (14.8%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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.

MeasureDudleyMillburyWareWhitman
People
Population
11,929
13,961
10,048Lowest
15,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.2±2.4Lowest
about the MA average
42.6±3.1
7% above MA
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
40.4±1.8
about the MA average
Ware and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.1%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Whitman and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±3
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Millbury 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%
36.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
31.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±1.2
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,604±$12k
19% below MA
$118,790±$13kHighest
14% above MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$108,933±$14k
5% above MA
Millbury and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$392,600±$19k
30% below MA
$450,100±$19k
20% below MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$472,700±$12kHighest
16% below MA
Whitman and Millbury 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
$1,623±$232
8% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,771±$151Highest
about the MA average
Whitman and Millbury 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
$5,406
10% below MA
$4,237
29% below MA
$5,824Highest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±4.1
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
61.9%±13.4
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.4%
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
7.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
75.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
6% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
28 min
about the MA average
36 minHighest
24% above MA
Work from home
9.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
10.8%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Millbury 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 #202 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA #191 of 282 in MA
School district Dudley-Charlton Reg Millbury Ware Whitman-Hanson
High school in town Shepherd Hill Regional High Millbury Junior/Senior High Ware Junior/Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
11.3
11.1Lowest
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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.