Compare towns
Dudley vs Saugus 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 most kids (20.6% under 18).
Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Saugus | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
28,773Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Saugus and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Saugus 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% |
31.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,049Highest about the MA average |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53%±9.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Saugus 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | 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 |
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.