Compare towns
Dudley vs Union vs Ware vs Whitman
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Union | Ware | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
944Lowest |
10,048 |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Union 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union 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% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$88,958±$14k 10% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Union 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. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,793 54% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Ware 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%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. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Whitman 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Union School District | Ware | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 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.