Compare towns
Ware vs Unity 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 most people working from home (12.3%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Unity | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
1,375Lowest |
11,929Highest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% 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%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest 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% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% 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% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Unity 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 | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Unity School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.