What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Oxford has the most people working from home (16.4%).

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	Oxford
People
Population	11,929Lowest	13,385Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average	42±2.8Highest 5% above MA
	Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Oxford and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	16.6%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Dudley and Oxford 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%	29.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA	$103,862±$10kHighest about the MA average
	Oxford and Dudley 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	$374,900±$18kLowest 33% below MA
	Dudley and Oxford 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	$1,177±$142Lowest 33% below MA
	Dudley and Oxford 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	$4,622Highest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.8%±15.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Oxford 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%	7.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.4%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#142 of 282 in MA	#245 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Oxford
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Oxford High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	10.3Lowest
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.