Compare towns
Dudley vs Temple vs Winchendon
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%).
Temple has the most people working from home (16.9%).
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 | Temple | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
1,363Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Temple 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% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchendon and Dudley 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% |
17.8%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Temple 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Temple and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$323,800±$19kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Temple 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 14% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
| 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 18% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Temple and Winchendon 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 → |
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.