Compare towns
Dudley vs Sheffield vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
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 | Sheffield | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
3,330Lowest |
10,048 |
12,228Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$92,120±$31kHighest 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Sheffield 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 |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Sheffield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Sheffield and Dudley 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 |
$4,520Highest 25% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Southern Berkshire | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Mt Everett Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.8Lowest |
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.