Compare towns

Hudson vs Ware vs Ware

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Ware has the oldest population (median age 43.1).

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.

MeasureHudsonWareWare
People
Population
20,077Highest
6,369Lowest
10,048
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.7
7% above MA
39.8±6Lowest
about the MA average
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
23.3%±4.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±3.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
15.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,400±$13kHighest
about the MA average
$45,158±$11kLowest
57% below MA
$67,475±$15k
35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$496,800±$22kHighest
12% below MA
$253,400±$31kLowest
55% below MA
$289,700±$28k
48% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$82Highest
20% below MA
$1,039±$104Lowest
41% below MA
$1,043±$109
41% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,892Highest
15% above MA
$3,408Lowest
43% below MA
$4,237
29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.8%±8.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.5%±17.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.1%Highest
MA: 10%
11.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
57.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
6% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.6%±5
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hudson 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 #224 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA #267 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson — Ware
High school in town Hudson High — Ware Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.2Lowest
—
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.