Compare towns
Ware vs Winchester 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%).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% 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 | Winchester | Dudley | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048 |
10,284 |
11,929Highest |
7,573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
49.1±6.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
| Winchester 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% |
15.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
27.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$66,519±$12k 18% below U.S. |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Ware 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. |
$249,500±$17k 25% 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. |
$1,174±$116 17% below U.S. |
$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Winchester 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. |
$4,780Highest 53% 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% |
48.9%±15.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchester 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% |
12.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 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. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Dudley 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 | #97 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Explorations District · Regional School District 07 | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Northwestern Regional High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.7 |
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.