Compare towns
Dudley vs Petersham vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
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 | Petersham | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
1,185Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Petersham and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$392,400±$20kLowest 30% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Whitman and Petersham 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 |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
8.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham and Whitman 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 | — | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Petersham | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.