Compare towns
Dudley vs Oakham vs Webster 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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Oakham | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,639Lowest |
12,228Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$102,000±$20kHighest about the MA average |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Oakham and Dudley 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 |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Oakham and Dudley 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 |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$4,237Highest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Oakham 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 | — | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| 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.