What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most expensive homes ($393k median).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dudley	Putnam
People
Population	11,929Highest	9,292Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S.
	Putnam and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dudley and Putnam 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%	18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Putnam 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%	20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kHighest 5% above U.S.	$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Dudley and Putnam 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.	$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,149±$44Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Dudley and Putnam 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.	$3,860Highest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dudley and Putnam 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%	11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 4% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dudley and Putnam 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	#128 of 149 in CT
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Putnam School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Putnam High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	9.5Lowest
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.