Compare towns
Dudley vs Buzzards Bay vs Winchendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Buzzards Bay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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 | Dudley | Buzzards Bay | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
2,909Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon 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% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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±$19k 30% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,780Highest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon 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% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
76.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Winchendon 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.