Compare towns
Dudley vs Ware vs Worcester vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,048Lowest |
207,055Highest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
37.2±2.1 7% below MA |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$333,100±$14k 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Worcester 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 |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Ware | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
11.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.