Compare towns
Dudley vs Effingham vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Whitman has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Effingham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,912Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.9±12.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8 4% above U.S. |
| Effingham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Effingham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$76,607±$14kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman 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 18% above U.S. |
$322,700±$30kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,090±$121Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,163 66% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Effingham and Whitman 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.