Compare towns
Dudley vs Sturbridge 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Winchendon has the most affordable homes ($324k 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 | Sturbridge | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
9,960Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchendon and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
21.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$75,690±$14kLowest 27% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$323,800±$19kLowest 42% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,255±$163Highest 29% below MA |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$3,780 37% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
18.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
76.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #142 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.