Compare towns
Ware vs Claremont 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 people working from home (12.3%).
Claremont has the most affordable homes ($205k 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 | Claremont | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
13,078Highest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±3.5 10% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Ware and Claremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.8%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Claremont 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$59,096±$8kLowest 27% 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. |
$204,600±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,146±$83 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Claremont 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. |
$5,774Highest 85% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.6%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Claremont 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% |
13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #103 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Claremont School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Stevens High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.7 |
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.