What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dudley has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Thompson
People
Population	11,929Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40.2±2.4Lowest 3% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	13.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,604±$12kLowest 5% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
	Thompson 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±$19kHighest 18% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,217±$182Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Dudley and Thompson 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.	$3,822Highest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg	Thompson School District
High school in town	Shepherd Hill Regional High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.