Compare towns
Ware vs Ripton vs Reading 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Ripton | Reading | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
508Lowest |
699 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton 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. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Reading 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. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Dudley 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. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Reading 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,754Highest 84% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.