What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

North Brookfield has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	North Brookfield
People
Population	11,929Highest	4,760Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	45.2±9.4Highest 13% above MA
	North Brookfield and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley and North Brookfield 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%	18.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9%
	North Brookfield 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%	26.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA	$79,285±$11kLowest 24% below MA
	Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA	$359,100±$32kLowest 36% below MA
	Dudley and North Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA	$981±$63Lowest 44% below MA
	Dudley and North Brookfield 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	$4,176Highest 30% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±15.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Brookfield 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%	12.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.1%±4.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	North Brookfield 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	#270 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	North Brookfield
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	North Brookfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	5.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.