Compare towns
Deerfield vs Dudley vs Montague
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Montague has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Deerfield | Dudley | Montague |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
11,929Highest |
8,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±3.1 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Dudley and Montague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Montague and Deerfield 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% |
37.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.3Lowest 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±$12k 19% below MA |
$70,510±$12kLowest 32% 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±$19k 30% below MA |
$282,100±$17kLowest 50% 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±$182 31% below MA |
$1,207±$115Lowest 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 |
$3,922 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
62.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
21 min 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Montague 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 | #265 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Franklin County Regional Vocational Technical · Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Franklin County Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.