Compare towns
Ware vs Providence vs Hardwick 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 affordable homes ($290k median).
Providence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Dudley has the highest household income ($85k).
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 | Providence | Hardwick | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
191,767Highest |
2,684Lowest |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
32.8±0.5Lowest 16% below U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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% |
11.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Providence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$68,119±$3k 16% below U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$362,200±$8k 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,408±$42Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
| Providence and Dudley 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. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±2.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick 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% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Providence 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 | #36 of 38 in RI | #163 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | MET Career and Tech · Urban Collaborative | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Classical High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
17.2Highest |
— | 14.3 |
| 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.