Compare towns
Ware vs Dalton 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).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dalton | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,256Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Dalton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
| Dudley and Dalton 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 |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware 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 |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Central Berkshire | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Wahconah Regional High | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
10.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.