Compare towns
Dudley vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Winchendon
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Exeter High School | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.1 |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 7 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.