Compare towns
Ware vs Ashburnham vs Windsor Locks 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 oldest population (median age 43.1).
Ashburnham has the highest household income ($119k).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Ashburnham | Windsor Locks | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,415Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3 5% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ware and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashburnham and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Windsor Locks 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% |
44%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$118,809±$11kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$390,700±$34k 17% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 36% above U.S. |
$6,046Highest 94% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above 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% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Ashburnham-Westminster | Windsor Locks School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Windsor Locks High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | 8.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.