Compare towns
Dudley vs Smithfield vs Ware vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has the highest household income ($102k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Smithfield | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
22,233Highest |
10,048Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.2±2.1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Ware and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.6Highest 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% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$63,837±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Smithfield 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 18% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$333,100±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,198±$85 15% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,234Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield 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 | #8 of 38 in RI | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Smithfield | Ware | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Smithfield High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.8 |
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.