Compare towns
Dudley vs Northbridge vs Whitman 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%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Northbridge | Whitman | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
16,458Highest |
15,295 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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 |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Northbridge High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.