Compare towns
Warren vs Heath 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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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.
| Measure | Warren | Heath | Ware | Dudley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,009 |
765Lowest |
6,369 |
11,929Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
39.8±6 about the MA average |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
| Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.2% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%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% |
3.3%±2.8 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 |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
| Heath and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
— | $1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
| Dudley and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,530Highest 24% below MA |
$4,438 26% below 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% |
40%±100 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% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #142 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quaboag Regional | — | — | Dudley-Charlton Reg |
| High school in town | Quaboag Regional High | — | — | Shepherd Hill Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
— | — | 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.