Compare towns
Dudley vs Rowe vs Winchendon
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 most expensive homes ($393k median).
Rowe has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Winchendon has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Rowe | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
453Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
48.9±6.4Highest 22% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Rowe 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% |
23%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Rowe and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.2%±8.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
26.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$69,583±$13kLowest 33% below MA |
$75,690±$14k 27% below MA |
| Dudley and Winchendon 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 |
$275,000±$41kLowest 51% below MA |
$323,800±$19k 42% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,313±$576Highest 25% below MA |
$1,255±$163 29% below MA |
| Rowe and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691 38% below MA |
$1,458Lowest 76% below MA |
$3,780Highest 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
11.8%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.7%±17.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Winchendon 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% |
15.8% MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchendon 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 | — | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Rowe | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | None in town | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.