Compare towns
Ware vs Brighton 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 housing (typical home built 1960).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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.
| Measure | Ware | Brighton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,167Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Ware 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% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% 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. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton 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 | — | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Brighton School District | 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.