Compare towns
Dudley vs Plaistow vs Whitman
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%).
Plaistow has the most people working from home (13.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929 |
7,861Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.4±1.8Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$108,933±$14kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Plaistow 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±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$472,700±$12kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,771±$151Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Whitman and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194Highest 131% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±13.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitman and Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Timberlane Regional School District | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.