Compare towns
Ware vs Fairlee 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 renters (27.7% rent).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Fairlee | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,066Lowest |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Fairlee 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. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Fairlee 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. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Ware 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 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%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate 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.