Compare towns
Dudley vs Mount Washington 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Mount Washington has the most people working from home (30.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Mount Washington | Ware | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
193Lowest |
10,048 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
52.1±10.7Highest 30% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Mount Washington 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 MA: 19.4% |
16.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley 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% |
27.5%±13Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Mount Washington 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% |
46.2%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% |
2.6%±7.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$142,500±$26kHighest 37% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Mount Washington 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 |
$714,300±$141kHighest 27% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,316Lowest 45% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Mount Washington and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
87.2%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 |
1967Highest 3 yrs 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 |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±14.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Mount Washington 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.