Compare towns
Dudley vs Springfield vs Whitman vs Blackstone
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Springfield | Whitman | Blackstone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929 |
154,749Highest |
15,295 |
9,255Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
| Blackstone and Whitman 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Blackstone 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blackstone 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
| Whitman and Blackstone 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
$404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
$1,189±$85 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$5,703 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Whitman 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #207 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Springfield | Whitman-Hanson | Blackstone-Millville |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Springfield Central High | None in town | Blackstone Millville RHS |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
12.2Lowest |
— | 13.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.