Compare towns

Ware vs Warner 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).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
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.

MeasureWareWarnerDudley
People
Population
10,048
2,959Lowest
11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±4.7
11% above U.S.
43.7±4Highest
12% above U.S.
40.2±2.4Lowest
3% above U.S.
Warner and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.1%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.3Lowest
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%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.9%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ware and Warner 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%
42.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
13.1%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,475±$15kLowest
16% below U.S.
$94,022±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$84,604±$12k
5% above U.S.
Warner 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.
$353,100±$22k
6% above U.S.
$392,600±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
Dudley and Warner 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.
$1,219±$123Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,217±$182
14% below U.S.
Warner 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.
$7,650Highest
145% above U.S.
$3,691Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64.3%±16.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ware and Warner 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%
6.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
12.3%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Warner 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 — #142 of 282 in MA
School district Ware Kearsarge Regional School District Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town Ware Junior/Senior High School 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

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.