Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Wolfeboro vs Webster
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,048 |
6,571Lowest |
17,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Webster 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$72,895±$6k 10% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 18% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$361,500±$12k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,228±$81Highest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,999 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±6.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #46 of 120 in NH | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Webster |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Kingswood Regional High School | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.