Compare towns
Ware vs Meredith vs Dudley vs Orange
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).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Dudley has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Meredith | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
6,758Lowest |
11,929Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Dudley 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Meredith 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. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
11.1 |
14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.