Compare towns
Dudley vs Townshend vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Ware has the most renters (27.7% rent).
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 | Townshend | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
1,538Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
8.1Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.