Compare towns
Dudley vs Jaffrey 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Jaffrey | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
5,448Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Jaffrey 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% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
18.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% 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. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchendon 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Conant Middle High School (H) | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
21.3Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.