Compare towns
Ware vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Reading | Hardwick | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
699Lowest |
2,684 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Reading and Hardwick 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hardwick 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Reading 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±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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. |
$5,754Highest 84% 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% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% 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% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 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. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Quabbin | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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 | 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.