What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).

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	Dudley	Blackstone
People
Population	11,929Highest	9,255Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	31.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$94,191±$21kHighest 9% below MA
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$404,400±$34kHighest 28% below MA
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA
	Dudley and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA	$5,703Highest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Blackstone and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 3 yrs newer than MA	1967 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 282 in MA	#207 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Blackstone-Millville
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Blackstone Millville RHS
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.