Compare towns
Dudley vs Sterling 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
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Sterling has the highest household income ($129k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Sterling | Ware | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
8,183Lowest |
10,048 |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Wachusett | Ware | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.