Compare towns
Dudley vs Maynard vs Whitman vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Whitman has the most renters (28.6% rent).
Blackstone has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Maynard | Whitman | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
10,712 |
15,295Highest |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
43.2±1.7 8% above MA |
| Maynard and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone and Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$1,189±$85Lowest 33% below MA |
| Maynard and Whitman 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Whitman 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Blackstone 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | — | 13.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 5 photos → | 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.