Compare towns
Dudley vs Orange vs Winchendon
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 ($222k median).
Winchendon 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 | Orange | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
957Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon 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% |
19.4%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
| Dudley and Winchendon 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. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163 11% below U.S. |
| Orange and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 18% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,780Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orange and Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.