Compare towns
Dudley vs Windsor vs Ware vs Winchendon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Winchendon 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 | Windsor | Ware | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
3,554Lowest |
10,048 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon 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. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #267 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Ware | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.