Compare towns
Dudley vs Mendon vs Orange
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).
Mendon has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Mendon | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
6,325Lowest |
7,573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
| Mendon and Orange 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% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Orange 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.3%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Orange 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$616,000±$37kHighest 10% above MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$7,213Highest 20% above MA |
$4,136 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Mendon 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Mendon-Upton | Orange · Ralph C Mahar |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.