Compare towns
Ware vs Becket vs Hardwick vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Becket | Hardwick | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,962Lowest |
2,684 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±9.8 13% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Becket and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$80,417±$29k 23% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$361,000±$82k 36% below MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Dudley and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Becket and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237 29% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Becket and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
11% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.