Compare towns

Ware vs Hingham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).

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.

MeasureWareHinghamDudley
People
Population
10,048Lowest
24,283Highest
11,929
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
8% above MA
48.4±2.4Highest
21% above MA
40.2±2.4Lowest
about the MA average
Hingham 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%
23.4%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.6%±3.3
MA: 19.4%
Hingham and Dudley 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%
26%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
16.9%±3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hingham 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%
76.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.9Lowest
MA: 7.9%
13.1%±2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$178,390±$15kHighest
72% above MA
$84,604±$12k
19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$1,134,200±$47kHighest
102% above MA
$392,600±$19k
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$2,465±$603Highest
40% above MA
$1,217±$182
31% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,237
29% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$3,691Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
60.3%±12
MA: 51.8%
47.4%±4.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Hingham 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%
4.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
6.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
80.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
4 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
about the MA average
36 minHighest
24% above MA
27 minLowest
6% below MA
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
33.1%±3.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
9.1%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #267 of 282 in MA #14 of 282 in MA #142 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Hingham Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School Hingham High Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
12.9
14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.