What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).

Holbrook has the highest household income ($115k).

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	Holbrook
People
Population	11,929Highest	11,380Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	42.8±3.2Highest 7% above MA
	Holbrook 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%	21.2%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holbrook 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%	19.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Holbrook 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%	34.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$115,210±$14kHighest 11% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA	$465,400±$21kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$1,094±$423Lowest 38% below MA
	Dudley and Holbrook 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	$6,105Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	47.8%±18.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holbrook 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%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	12.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Holbrook and Dudley 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	#234 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Holbrook
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Holbrook Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3	14.3
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.