Compare towns
Dudley vs Warren vs Windsor vs Ware
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%).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Windsor has the most people working from home (21.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
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 | Warren | Windsor | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
5,009 |
1,065Lowest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
44.8±6.4Highest 12% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Windsor 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% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Warren 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% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Windsor 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% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$389,700±$32k 31% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Dudley and Windsor 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 |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
— | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware 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 |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quaboag Regional | — | Ware |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Quaboag Regional High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
10.0Lowest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.