Compare towns
Ware vs Acton vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k 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 | Ware | Acton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
2,721Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #43 of 133 in ME | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Acton Public Schools | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 |
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.