Compare towns
Dudley vs Providence vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Providence | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
191,767Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Providence 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 5% above U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Providence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Providence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Classical High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
17.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.