Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange vs Worcester
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%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Orange | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
7,573 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Dudley 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% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Worcester 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dudley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Worcester 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. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Worcester 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. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,421Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dudley and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.