Compare towns
Dudley vs North Brookfield 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%).
North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).
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 | North Brookfield | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
4,760Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| North Brookfield and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and North Brookfield 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% |
26.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$79,285±$11k 24% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Dudley and North Brookfield 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 |
$359,100±$32k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware 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 |
$4,176 30% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±15.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and North Brookfield 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% |
12.9%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
37 minHighest 28% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| North Brookfield 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 | #270 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | North Brookfield | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | North Brookfield High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
5.5Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.