Compare towns
Warren vs Andover vs Ware vs Dudley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warren has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Andover has the most expensive homes ($856k median).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Warren | Andover | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009Lowest |
36,652Highest |
6,369 |
11,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
42.9±1Highest 7% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Andover and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$172,606±$16kHighest 66% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$855,600±$22kHighest 52% above MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,691 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #165 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
12.8 |
— | 14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.