What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).

Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).

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	Hanson
People
Population	11,929Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA
	Hanson 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%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hanson 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%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson 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%	42.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA	$1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA
	Hanson and Dudley 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	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley and Hanson 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	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.