Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Wareham Center vs Whitman
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 most affordable homes ($290k median).
Wareham Center has the most people working from home (21.5%).
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 | Ware | Wareham Center | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,048 |
3,635Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
50.7±6.9Highest 27% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Wareham Center 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Wareham Center 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% |
20.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dudley and Wareham Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$91,936±$8k 12% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Wareham Center 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±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$425,700±$54k 24% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Whitman and Wareham Center 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,415±$537 20% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Wareham Center 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 |
$4,217 30% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.9%±27.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
72% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.5%±13Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham Center 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | — | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | 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 |
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.