Compare towns
Dudley vs Halifax 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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Halifax | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
847Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
40.6±13.1Highest 4% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Halifax 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 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Halifax and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$267,500±$21kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$875±$154Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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. |
$4,991Highest 60% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.9%±11.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Halifax School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | 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 → |
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.