Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Orange vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Ware has the oldest housing (typical home built 1960).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Ware | Orange | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
10,048 |
7,573Lowest |
9,255 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Blackstone 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Blackstone 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Orange 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA |
| Blackstone 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 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA |
| Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Dudley and Blackstone 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 |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$5,703Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone 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 MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1 |
9.0Lowest |
13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.