Compare towns

Erving vs Ware vs Dudley

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Erving has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

MeasureErvingWareDudley
People
Population
1,703Lowest
10,048
11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4Highest
8% above MA
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
40.2±2.4Lowest
about the MA average
Erving and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Erving 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%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,656±$9k
25% below MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$84,604±$12kHighest
19% below MA
Dudley and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$289,700±$28k
48% below MA
$392,600±$19kHighest
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,163±$213
34% below MA
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$1,217±$182Highest
31% below MA
Dudley and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$4,237Highest
29% below MA
$3,691
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
47.4%±4.1
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
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957Lowest
7 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
28 minHighest
about the MA average
27 minLowest
6% below MA
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.1%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Ware 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 — #267 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA
School district Erving Ware Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town None in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1Lowest
14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.