Compare towns
Ware vs Windsor Locks vs Dudley vs Winchendon
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 population (median age 43.1).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Windsor Locks | Dudley | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,048Lowest |
12,579Highest |
11,929 |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ware and Windsor Locks 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ware and Windsor Locks 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% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Windsor Locks 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. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Winchendon 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% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #142 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ware | Windsor Locks School District | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Windsor Locks High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
8.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.