Compare towns
Dudley vs Lawrence vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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 | Lawrence | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
88,736Highest |
13,385 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
42±2.8Highest 5% above MA |
| Oxford 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% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average |
| Oxford 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±$19k 30% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA |
| Lawrence and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,622Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.8%±15.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Oxford 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% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #245 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Lawrence | Oxford |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Lawrence High School | Oxford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
13.6 |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.