Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Orange | Whitman | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,573Lowest |
15,295Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Whitman 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Whitman 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Whitman-Hanson | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 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.