Compare towns
Dudley vs Northampton vs Ware vs Webster
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 highest household income ($85k).
Northampton has the most people working from home (24.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Northampton | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
30,962Highest |
10,048Lowest |
17,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Ware and Northampton 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%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
20.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Northampton 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% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Northampton and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$80,288±$6k 23% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Northampton 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 |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Northampton 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% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
21 minLowest 26% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Northampton High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
14.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.