Compare towns
Dudley vs Rye vs Webster 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Rye | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
5,611Lowest |
12,228Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Rye School District | — | 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 |
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.