Compare towns
Ware vs Vershire vs Dudley vs Hardwick
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).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Vershire | Dudley | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
842Lowest |
11,929Highest |
2,684 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
45.7±9.3Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
| Vershire and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 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% |
22.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick and Vershire 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% |
31.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$71,618±$12k 11% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below 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±$28k 13% below U.S. |
$209,100±$55kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
| Dudley and Hardwick 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. |
$1,117±$80 21% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Vershire 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. |
$4,640Highest 49% above U.S. |
$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Vershire and Ware 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% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #267 of 282 in MA | — | #142 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town |
| 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.