What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deep River has the most people working from home (15.2%).

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Deep River	Dudley
People
Population	4,458Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.2±5.6Highest 19% above U.S.	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Deep River and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Deep River and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,253±$19kHighest 12% above U.S.	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Deep River and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$26kLowest 9% above U.S.	$392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Dudley and Deep River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,221±$185Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.
	Deep River and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,092Highest 95% above U.S.	$3,691Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Deep River and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 8% below U.S.	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	15.2%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Deep River 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	#70 of 149 in CT	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Deep River School District · Regional School District 04	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Valley Regional High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.