What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Peterborough has the most people working from home (15.8%).

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	Peterborough
People
Population	11,929Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	52.1±1.9Highest 34% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Peterborough 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%	30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.	$98,401±$8kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Peterborough 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±$19kLowest 18% above U.S.	$404,500±$31kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Peterborough and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S.	$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average
	Peterborough and Dudley 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.	$8,655Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.8%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.