What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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.

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

Measure	Deerfield	Dudley
People
Population	5,158Lowest	11,929Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Dudley and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA
	Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA
	Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Highest 24% below MA	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA
	Deerfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Highest about the MA average	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.