Compare towns
Dudley vs Thompson 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 the most expensive homes ($393k median).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Winchendon has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Thompson | Winchendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Highest |
9,337Lowest |
10,440 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4 3% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.4%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% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$75,690±$14kLowest 6% below 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. |
$323,800±$19k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% 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. |
$3,822Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,780 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #269 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Thompson School District | Winchendon |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Murdock High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.