What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dudley	Wareham
People
Population	11,929Lowest	23,302Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	27.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA
	Wareham 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±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA
	Wareham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA
	Wareham and Dudley 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	$4,341Highest 28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wareham 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 MA: 10%	6.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wareham and Dudley 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	#272 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Wareham
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Wareham Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.