Compare towns
Dudley vs Sturbridge vs Webster 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
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 | Sturbridge | Webster | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
9,960Lowest |
17,748Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge and Dudley 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% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Webster and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 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 |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Webster | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Bartlett High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.6 |
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.